Belize Knife Laws

[Whiggamore]

Hi, I'm Whiggamore and I live in Belize. Knife laws in Belize are found in the second part of Chapter 102 of the Laws of Belize, the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act:

PART II

Articles with Blades of Points and Offensive Weapons

6.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place:-

(a) between the hours of 8:00 pm and 5:00 am;

(b) at anytime in a gathering of people for political, social, sporting, cultural or other activities,​

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) This section applies to any article:-

(a) which has a blade or is sharply pointed, except a folding pocket knife the cutting edge of which does not exceed three inches; or

(b) which amounts to an offensive weapon as defined in this section.​

(3) It shall be defence for a person charged with an offense under this section to prove that he had the article with him for use at work or had other good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall, unless any other penalty is specially provided, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

(5) In this section:-

"offensive weapon" means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to or incapacitating a person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use, but does not include a firearm subject to the Firearms Act;

"public place" includes any place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment of a fee or otherwise.​

Pretty straight forward: no big knives or weapons at night or in public places except a Swiss Army knife. Why? Riots, apparently.

Also note, self-defense is not considered a "good reason" under section three. The concept of self-defense seems lost on the law & order community in Belize, unfortunately.

 

[joe-bob]

Also note, self-defense is not considered a "good reason" under section three. The concept of self-defense seems lost on the law & order community in Belize, unfortunately.

It's lost in alot of places in the US as well, inspite of the recent Supreme Court weapons ruling that listed it as a primay reason to carry arms.

 

[Whiggamore]

What a joke things have become.

Anyways, during the day and whenever there aren't more than three around (three is a crowd, don't they say?) you can have any kind of knife, from a neat little switchblade in your shirt pocket or a big 'ol machete on your belt. Even in a bank!

 

[TOM1960]

It seem that this Belize knife law was centered around fishing and agriculture, given the time-frame of 8:00PM to 5:00AM. It would allow for the legal carry of knives during the workday, but not at night when people would be headed out to the bar for few cold ones!

 

[TOM1960]

It's lost in alot of places in the US as well, inspite of the recent Supreme Court weapons ruling that listed it as a primay reason to carry arms.

The Heller case concerned the possession of handguns in the home. It did not address the carrying or possession of firearms or edged weapons in public. Unfortunate, but true.

 

[joe-bob]

If you read the decision, it did discuss carrying of arms for self defense as a primary reason for the amendment.