State Knife Laws: Know What’s Legal and What’s Not

[HD]

State Knife Laws: Know What’s Legal and What’s Not

Knife laws vary tremendously from state to state. This infographic will help you know your rights and avoid unintentionally breaking the law.

KnifeUp is an excellent online source for questions and information on knife issues. Many of us don’t even consider variances in knife laws when traveling from state to state, but we should.

If you get caught in, for example, Georgia open carrying a five-inch pocket knife you’ve worn on your belt “forever” in Wisconsin, you could find yourself in hot water. Knowing the law helps you know your rights as well.

KnifeUp indicates, “With regards to knife knife law, things [can get] particularly tricky since a certain knife can be legal in one state and illegal in the next as well as legal in one county and illegal in the neighboring county. The infographic below highlights where certain knives are legal and illegal at the state level.”

Refer to this handy infographic on state knife laws and then refer to the Knife Law Guide for All 50 States for specific state laws.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rebel SS]

Great info!!   

[LPS]

So is a Gerber multi tool considered a knife?  i like to have mine with me.

[HD]

So is a Gerber multi tool considered a knife?  i like to have mine with me.

Yup, if it has a blade

[Rebel SS]

From the Minnesota books:



What is Legal to Own:

Balisong knives are legal to own.
Dirks, stilettos, daggers, and other stabbing knives are legal to own.
Disguised knives like lipstick knives are legal to own.
Bowie knives are legal to own.
Throwing stars and throwing knives are legal to own.
All other knives are legal to own.
Only switchblades are illegal.

What is Legal to Carry

Knives with utility purposes are legal to carry.
Knives that can be used as weapons are legal to carry as long as you do not have intent to harm others.
It is illegal to recklessly use a knife that was designed to be a weapon.
It is illegal to carry a knife that was designed to be a weapon (and not a tool) with the intent to harm others.
Those are the general guidelines, read further to see the full details on what you can and can not own and carry.

What the Law States
Dangerous Weapons General (Paragraph a)
Minn. Stat. § 609.66 (2012)

609.66 DANGEROUS WEAPONS

Subdivision 1. Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes.

(a) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced as provided in paragraph (b):

(1) recklessly handles or uses a gun or other dangerous weapon or explosive so as to endanger the safety of another; or

(2) intentionally points a gun of any kind, capable of injuring or killing a human being and whether loaded or unloaded, at or toward another; or

(3) manufactures or sells for any unlawful purpose any weapon known as a slungshot or sand club; or

(4) manufactures, transfers, or possesses metal knuckles or a switch blade knife opening automatically; or

(5) possesses any other dangerous article or substance for the purpose of being used unlawfully as a weapon against another; or

[…]
(b) A person convicted under paragraph (a) may be sentenced as follows:

(1) if the act was committed in a public housing zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 19, a school zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 14a, or a park zone, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 12a, to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $ 3,000, or both; or

(2) otherwise, including where the act was committed on residential premises within a zone described in clause (1) if the offender was at the time an owner, tenant, or invitee for a lawful purpose with respect to those residential premises, to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $ 1,000, or both.

[HD]

Their laws are so ef'ed up.... Me and my son went to the courthouse to get our passports renewed. I had in my pocket a fingernail clipper with a small blade attached (maybe a inch and a quarter)....they said that that was a weapon and could not have on my person.

BUT.....get this....my son had one of then fishing hook clips on his hat....and they said that was a weapon as well.....sheeeze....

[Rebel SS]

The Minnysoda weapons laws have always been frigged up. Makes for a lot of unnecessary foolishness for both "sides", believe me.

[Boar]

geeze, sos the fricking len that fill out the passport app with. wth!