Knife laws around the world.

[bruto]

Confusing perhaps, but not necessarily all bad. Some states are very big, and the difference between their inner cities and their far flung rural districts is very great. If you make a law that applies to both New York City and Brasher Falls, it's likely to be unsuitable for one or the other.

[JowiiYoyo]

Confusing perhaps, but not necessarily all bad. Some states are very big, and the difference between their inner cities and their far flung rural districts is very great. If you make a law that applies to both New York City and Brasher Falls, it's likely to be unsuitable for one or the other.

Ooh yeah that makes a lot of sense actually. Thanks 

[Singh]

But I'll also add that carrying knives in the USA isn't that big of a deal (we can carry guns here, after all).

If you're not looking for trouble, then a knife in your pocket won't get you noticed by the police. Police have more to worry about than pocket knives. Get caught doing crime, and you happen to have a knife on you,  then that'll compound the charges filed against you.

[charlie fox]

But I'll also add that carrying knives in the USA isn't that big of a deal (we can carry guns here, after all).

If you're not looking for trouble, then a knife in your pocket won't get you noticed by the police. Police have more to worry about than pocket knives. Get caught doing crime, and you happen to have a knife on you,  then that'll compound the charges filed against you.

Here in SC the use of a knife during a crime is a compounding offense. It's all about intent. However I will say that using a knife for self defense is problematic in any state; there is a primal bias present. You'd better be able to clearly articulate that it was a last resort option or you could be on the receiving end of some prison time. Shoot someone in self defense - defendable. Stab/slash someone in self defense - you got some 'splainin to do.

[nate j]

That also seems unnecessarily confusing. Why have different regulations within the same state?? I can understand that each state has its own laws 

Confusing perhaps, but not necessarily all bad. Some states are very big, and the difference between their inner cities and their far flung rural districts is very great. If you make a law that applies to both New York City and Brasher Falls, it's likely to be unsuitable for one or the other.

Bruto has fairly summarized the argument for allowing different local laws.

The argument on the other side is that it isn’t reasonable to expect someone who is traveling to research the ordinances of the dozens (or more) localities they may be passing through (even on a short day trip).  This is why both AKTI and Knife Rights support knife law preemption, i.e. state laws that prohibit cities or other municipalities from having knife laws that are more restrictive than state law.

https://www.akti.org/legislation/about-knife-preemption/

https://kniferights.org/wp-content/uploads/Preemption_WP_Model_Language-2023.pdf

[G-Dizzle]

Bruto has fairly summarized the argument for allowing different local laws.

The argument on the other side is that it isn’t reasonable to expect someone who is traveling to research the ordinances of the dozens (or more) localities they may be passing through (even on a short day trip).  This is why both AKTI and Knife Rights support knife law preemption, i.e. state laws that prohibit cities or other municipalities from having knife laws that are more restrictive than state law.

https://www.akti.org/legislation/about-knife-preemption/

https://kniferights.org/wp-content/uploads/Preemption_WP_Model_Language-2023.pdf

*EDITED BECAUSE LAW HAS BEEN REPEALED*

Not only that, but places like NYC *had* taken it to the point where even a Buck 110 *was* considered a “gravity knife” because a street officer *could* grab the blade and drop it open. There are documented cases of people being arrested solely for carrying a buck knife. One was a boy scout IIRC.

[G-Dizzle]

Actually, that law was repealed! I stand corrected. My apologies.

https://blademag.com/knife-news/ban-on-gravity-knives-repealed-in-new-york-state/amp

The law was in place for 60 years though.

[Farmer X]

Stay with a folding blade under 3" and you should be fine in most circumstances.

"Most" is the key word there. Some jurisdictions limit you to a 2.5-inch or smaller blade.

It's all about intent.

It's a shame that mentality isn't universal.

[JowiiYoyo]

Actually even if our swedish knife laws are weird it does have to do with your intention. Ive read of "not so smart" people getting fined because they told the police they carried a knife "just in case i need to defend myself or scare some punks away".  Thats a big nono... Even if they were allowed to carry a blade in that place at that time, if that is your intention, youre breaking the law.

Its not all about intent tho, you cant carry a machete or big survival blade even if you have a good reason for it. And like i stated before, you could get fined for carrying an umbrella if your intent is to use it for self defense

[Blunt Object]

Here across the water (Bottenviken in this case) we have pretty much the same law as in Sweden. Blanket ban on anything that can be used as a weapon, unless it's for work or other legitimate use (outside urban areas there's always a reason to carry a knife). We share the history and culture of agriculture, hunting, fishing, etc, so no surprise the law is the same. Sale of certain types of knives (otf's and other automatics, bayonets and such) used to be prohibited, but when the law was updated, most items became legal.

As for enforcing the law, again it's the same. Depends on who you are and what you're doing. Men walk around in the supermarket with LM's and don't get hassled, but if you are found outside late at night looking sus and carrying a folder, you're prosecuted. It's not ideal, but our police are very laid back, professional and trusted. Still, I'd like to decide myself if I carry or not, and not count on the copper's good mood.

A new chapter in the book are the ... shall we say, new arrivals who carry machetes or kitchen knives. Doesn't take a lot of profiling to know who they are. Stabbings are getting more and more common. Funny, the old trope about a stab happy drunk Finn was becoming history, but now knife crime is making a comeback 

[Singh]

. It's not ideal, but our police are very laid back, professional and trusted.

That must be nice.

[Blunt Object]

That must be nice.

It is. Training takes two to three years after High School diploma; psych evaluation, background check by our national security police, long in-work practice, etc. People trust the police most of all public servants. Perks of being a small, homogenous nation.

That said, I would definitely get fined if my folder was found on my person. But I can risk it - been carrying for half a century without problems.

[JowiiYoyo]

You havent done anything wrong until you get caught 

If you never get stopped and patted down by police then you can carry whatever you want.   

[JowiiYoyo]

Nothing to do with the subject but since we had a some people from the EU i just wanted to share this here for everyone. Please join, it would be so much fun 

https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=92361.30#lastPost