Help with rights

[cbm989]

Hi ive recently been getting into alot of study on what exactly my rights are. I was inspired to do this when i would get heckled by the pigs and wonder "are they legally allowed to do this?" For example, i carry a knife with me for protection and for usefulness. Recently i was looking up the Arkansas state law on knives for what was legal and not legal and i got this:

Arkansas - 5-73-121. (a) A person who carries a knife as a
weapon, except when upon a journey or upon his own
premises, shall be punished as provided by section 5-73-
123(b).
(b) If a person carries a knife with a blade 3-1/2 inches
long or longer, this fact shall be prima facie proof that
the knife is carried as a weapon.

So what im wondering is where can i find what "section 5-73-123 (b)" says? Is there a book that has all of that in it thats available to the public? Basicly im asking if there is some sort of document that has all the state laws on various topics, and what their punishment is. Sorry if that didnt make sense? but i hope it did and cheers in advance to anyone who helps me out here.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

Why do you need to know? No offense, but I don't know anyone who likes seeing people walk by them with a knife. Just conceal it would be my recommendation. If you really want to know, you could contact your local representative in government or the police. They probably have a legal obligation to tell you. In fact, you could easily pretend you saw someone else with a knife and were wondering about the legality.

[Sadena Meti]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2006, 09:21 PM
Hi ive recently been getting into alot of study on what exactly my rights are. I was inspired to do this when i would get heckled by the pigs and wonder "are they legally allowed to do this?" For example, i carry a knife with me for protection and for usefulness. Recently i was looking up the Arkansas state law on knives for what was legal and not legal and i got this:

Arkansas - 5-73-121. (a) A person who carries a knife as a
weapon, except when upon a journey or upon his own
premises, shall be punished as provided by section 5-73-
123(b).
(b) If a person carries a knife with a blade 3-1/2 inches
long or longer, this fact shall be prima facie proof that
the knife is carried as a weapon.

So what im wondering is where can i find what "section 5-73-123 (b)" says? Is there a book that has all of that in it thats available to the public? Basicly im asking if there is some sort of document that has all the state laws on various topics, and what their punishment is. Sorry if that didnt make sense? but i hope it did and cheers in advance to anyone who helps me out here.
Just look up the complete statutes. A bit below this one will will be 5-73-123(b) which lists the level of offense, ie Misdemeanor C or Forfeiture B, etc.

Basically, the loophole in this law is that knives as tools are not illegal. So if you have a Swiss Army Knife with a 3' blade, it is legal, as a. it is a tool, and b. it is under 3.5". Leatherman tools almost always get past searches, as it is so obviously a tool. Plus they are bloody useful. Everyone should have one.

However, say you have a punch dagger with a 2" blade. Because that is obviously a weapon knife vs a tool knife, it is illegal in your state.

Similarly, if you have a Swiss Army Knife with a 3.5" blade, it doesn't matter that it is a tool, as it qualifies as a weapon.

That's a pretty strict law. Here in Wisconsin I could carry a machete on my hip if I wanted to, so long as a. I don't wield it, and b. it is not concealed.

If you want to carry something for melee defense, and want something that can never be confiscated or cause arrest, get a 3 to 4 d-cell MagLight flashlight, and a belt loop.


On a side note, just Friday I saw an old guy getting around the concealed weapon law by wearing a .32 automatic on a chain around his neck. Walking down the street with a pistol on his chest... lol.

[apathy maybe]

The laws should be online somewhere. Do a search or ask your local "representative"'s office.

If you are seriously worried though, ask a lawyer. At least around Australia there are various free legal advice centres, look around where ever you are.


From my reading of that section of the law, unless you are actually travelling between towns I would say that you can not carry a knife at all. In Tasmania (where I am) even a tiny little knife is considered a weapon.

Both in relation to this and more generally, the cops can do anything they want. "Legally" they have limits on what they can do, but they will shoot you down and claim they thought you had a gun (especially if you are not white).

The cops can hassle you, they can arrest you on a spurious charge, arrest you without charge. They can do anything really, even kill you (see previous paragraph). If you complain, you had better watch out, if they take any notice of you (except to laugh), they might arrest you for some other crap charge. If you make an actual formal complaint, if it actually results in anything happening to the cops involved, well it will be perhaps an instruction "not to do it again" with a wink and a nudge.

[Comrade J]

I think it's ridiculous that various states have their own laws, inter-state travel could become quite confusing, and it just gives the government more chances to fine you.

[Whitten]

ignore

[Zero]

If you are worried about legal rights in a criminal or civil case then talk to the ACLU. If you're worried about every day legal stuff, or licensing stuff, then the Internet is your best friend.

[worldtradeisadeathmachine]

I don't know what the laws in America are, but here in Britain
If you get caught with a knife, they can fine you on the spot, which in turn has made more people buy stuff like guns.