Could Ohio make their Knife carry laws any more confusing?

[2ndhalf]

I've been carrying this exact knife for 30 years. Its a tool. Not a defensive weapon.

Swiss Army Floral Knife

View attachment 483909

I have carried this Cutco pocket knife for about 25 years. I took it off my key chain since I was going in hospital a lot to visit parents and they had a metal detector.. can't find it now.. I love the knife though... I will find it eventually.

Pocket Knife | Sporting Knives by Cutco

 

[Citydude]

Interesting thread. I looked up Wyoming's knife carry laws. There are no restrictions on carrying knives of any kind. However it is against the law to stab someone, putting the responsibility on the person and not the knife.

 

[k0ua]

Interesting thread. I looked up Wyoming's knife carry laws. There are no restrictions on carrying knives of any kind. However it is against the law to stab someone, putting the responsibility on the person and not the knife.

There you go.. Murder is illegal in all 57 )) states.. why in heck can't they just leave it at that is beyond me. Why we even need knife laws is a mystery to me. It seems it is just something that the police and prosecutor can hassle you on and hold you for a while with. The laws are pretty vague is many states and to my way of thinking, not for good reason.

I have carried some sort of pocket knife since I was 5 years old. The last 30 years I have carried a tactical folder. Usually a Spyderco or Benchmade.

 

[hutchman]

Interesting thread. I looked up Wyoming's knife carry laws. There are no restrictions on carrying knives of any kind. However it is against the law to stab someone, putting the responsibility on the person and not the knife.

Wow! What a concept. I think Wyoming may have just been added to my "possibles" list.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I would like to buy this knife.. seems exactly what I need and yet as I read about it, it looks like a self defense knife which I guess is supposed to be a no no.
Gerber: Ghostrike Fixed Blade - theEMSstore

Anyone know the Ohio laws... maybe an attourney who can interpret the mumbo jumbo on the site below.

Ohio Knife Laws | KnifeUp

As used in sections 2923.11 to 2923.24 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Deadly weapon" means any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.

2923.12 Carrying concealed weapons.

(A) No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on the person's person or concealed ready at hand, any of the following:

(1) A deadly weapon other than a handgun;

Seems to me that the definition is very broad, but is probably crafted to be very broad. If the device is obviously designed as a weapon and is capable of inflicting death, then it is included...or if it is modified to be a weapon, or used or carried as a weapon, then it is included. As I said the definition is fairly broad, but the question is...is the definition unconstitutionally vague? I doubt it...however, the circumstances will make a lot of difference.

I would venture to say that your "ghost knife" very clearly fits the definition because it is described as a self defense weapon...but what do I know. Consult your attorney if you have any doubts.

 

[k0ua]

As used in sections 2923.11 to 2923.24 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Deadly weapon" means any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.

So if you carried a fairly large ball bearing in your pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. If you carried a good sized rock in your pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. If you carried a tightly rolled up newspaper in your back pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. Would the passing of some rather odiferous gas be construed as being "deadly"

Point is, darn near anything is capable of inflicting death and could be adapted for use as a weapon and carried for that purpose by someone..

Weapon laws are stupid, They are created by morons. There should be no Weapon laws of any kind. You should be allowed to carry whatever you want to carry. When you use it to injure or kill someone unlawfully (murder). Then you should be dealt with harshly by the law. If you injure or kill someone lawfully, (self defense), then you should not be in jeopardy.

So it shall be written, so it shall be done...

 

[hutchman]

In my experiene, laws that are written like that are used to get you on secondary charges etc., not the main charge.

So if something happens and you're in the wrong (or wrong situation), they could tack on knife charges if they are throwing the book at you but it wouldn't be the main/only thing they go after you for.

 

[smstonypoint]

I didn't follow the police trials in Baltimore that closely, but I seem to recall that Gray was carrying a knife when arrested. The prosecution argued that the knife was legal, while the defense argued it was illegal. Has my memory failed me?

Steve

 

[hutchman]

I didn't follow the police trials in Baltimore that closely, but I seem to recall that Gray was carrying a knife when arrested. The prosecution argued that the knife was legal, while the defense argued it was illegal. Has my memory failed me?

Steve

Hmm, quick search turns up this:

Is Baltimore’s Prosecutor Wrong About Freddie Gray’s ‘Legal’ Knife? - The Daily Beast

 

[2ndhalf]

So if you carried a fairly large ball bearing in your pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. If you carried a good sized rock in your pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. If you carried a tightly rolled up newspaper in your back pocket, that would be a deadly weapon. Would the passing of some rather odiferous gas be construed as being "deadly"

Point is, darn near anything is capable of inflicting death and could be adapted for use as a weapon and carried for that purpose by someone..

Weapon laws are stupid, They are created by morons. There should be no Weapon laws of any kind. You should be allowed to carry whatever you want to carry. When you use it to injure or kill someone unlawfully (murder). Then you should be dealt with harshly by the law. If you injure or kill someone lawfully, (self defense), then you should not be in jeopardy.

So it shall be written, so it shall be done...

Agree on the "anything can be used as a weapon" and a lot of knives are utilitarian in nature. I think this is why they leave the definition of "deadly weapon" open ended. There are people who could carry a survival knife for self defense and a self defense knife as a survival knife.

IMO if your going to let people carry knives; stop worrying about the knife type and worry about the incident and the details of that.