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Exemptions for LEO and Military for auto knives
- Thread starter ProRookie
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2000
- Messages
- 362
The Federal law, the 1958 Switchblade Knife Act has exemptions for government empoyees. However, this does not over ride state or local restrictions. As I understand it, California allows switchblades with blades of two inches or less to be carried as common pocket knives. Your locality may have tighter ordinances. And, the agency with which you are going to be employed may not allow officers to carry switchblades. You should check with them.
It seems that most officers who carry switchblades are just getting away with it because of "professional courtesy". Until you find out for sure, don't stick your neck out.
It seems that most officers who carry switchblades are just getting away with it because of "professional courtesy". Until you find out for sure, don't stick your neck out.
- Joined
- May 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,259
AFAIK, there is not CA law or exemption allowing LEO's to carry auto's. Technically they're held to the same restrictions as everyone else. But I doubt that an LEO who is acting responsibly will ever get arrested or charged with carrying an auto, unless he does so against his CO's orders. Check with your supervisor or whoever's in charge. You'll probably be ok if you follow those orders.
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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"
- Zarathustra
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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"
- Zarathustra
Hi.
I looked through the CA laws relating to knives and could find no reference that exempted LEOs from automatic knife laws.
Having looked through many state laws relating to this, there is sometimes a statement exempting LEO from the law for carrying weapons REQUIRED and AUTHORIZED as a part of their duties.
Don't get me wrong, I read the 2nd Amendment literally, I think that all citizens should be able to possess AND carry weapons. The police cannot be everywhere. I am also a supporter of mandatory training with weapons - but not weapons registration.
A question: Why would you want to carry an automatic knife. An ordinary citizen can't so why should a police officer be permitted to carry one? Police officers are sometimes seen carrying knives which would be illegal for the ordinary citizen to carry. I personally think that the practice is wrong. The only weapons that LEOs should be permitted to carry are those SPECIFICALLY required and authorized.
Just my opinion.
I looked through the CA laws relating to knives and could find no reference that exempted LEOs from automatic knife laws.
Having looked through many state laws relating to this, there is sometimes a statement exempting LEO from the law for carrying weapons REQUIRED and AUTHORIZED as a part of their duties.
Don't get me wrong, I read the 2nd Amendment literally, I think that all citizens should be able to possess AND carry weapons. The police cannot be everywhere. I am also a supporter of mandatory training with weapons - but not weapons registration.
A question: Why would you want to carry an automatic knife. An ordinary citizen can't so why should a police officer be permitted to carry one? Police officers are sometimes seen carrying knives which would be illegal for the ordinary citizen to carry. I personally think that the practice is wrong. The only weapons that LEOs should be permitted to carry are those SPECIFICALLY required and authorized.
Just my opinion.
Rick
If you're a believer in the 2nd how can you ask the anti's favorite question, "why would you want to..." or support their favorite, "only what you are required to have..." line? If you believe all citizens should be able to carry, the issue isn't that the police shouldn't be able to carry but rather, all citizens SHOULD be able to... I think we're on the same page here, just wanted to clarify.
If you're a believer in the 2nd how can you ask the anti's favorite question, "why would you want to..." or support their favorite, "only what you are required to have..." line? If you believe all citizens should be able to carry, the issue isn't that the police shouldn't be able to carry but rather, all citizens SHOULD be able to... I think we're on the same page here, just wanted to clarify.
I ask the question why for one reason.
While I don't agree with restrictive gun and knife laws, they are the law - for ALL to obey, including the police. In the meantime I am working through legal means to have the restrictive laws recinded or relaxed - but while they are in effect - all should obey.
Too often I have seen LEOs ask about exemptions or what they can get away with. Police officers should be held to the same standards under the law as other citizens (with exception of AUTHORIZED - weapons). And they should set the example. In many jurisdictions the police are given great latitude - too much in my opinion.
How can the police expect other citizens (who they work for by the way) to obey laws when they get both official and sometimes unofficial exceptions to the law that really go beyond the scope of their duties. While it may have happened, I have never heard of a police officer being arrested and prosecuted for carrying illegal weapons - but we hear of that happening to other citizens all the time. I have never seen a police officer stop another for a traffic violation - but I see police officer violate traffic laws all the time - and they stop other citizens all the time. Police need to enforce the law - not find ways around it. Double standards cause problems.
I am not down on the police - the are needed and they have a tough job - and I respect them for that. But they work for the citizens and should be subject to the same standards. And people in communities all over the US are saying the same thing - many communities are forming police oversite committees to try to check abuses. The abuses are happening too often and in far too many areas for it to go on unchecked.
I carry knives (that are LEGAL in the jursidication I happen to be in) all the time but have never had a need or a desire to carry an automatic knife. It is amazing what a simple little pocketknife can do! Perhaps the LEO in question has a perceived need - I don't know, but I can't imagine what the need might be under normal circumstances. (I will admit that there might be certain circumstances in which an LEO might need an automatic knife such as on a search and rescue, rapelling, etc. but not for everyday carry). I hunt and fish, but I don't carry a sheathknife all the time, just when hunting or fishing.
While I don't agree with restrictive gun and knife laws, they are the law - for ALL to obey, including the police. In the meantime I am working through legal means to have the restrictive laws recinded or relaxed - but while they are in effect - all should obey.
Too often I have seen LEOs ask about exemptions or what they can get away with. Police officers should be held to the same standards under the law as other citizens (with exception of AUTHORIZED - weapons). And they should set the example. In many jurisdictions the police are given great latitude - too much in my opinion.
How can the police expect other citizens (who they work for by the way) to obey laws when they get both official and sometimes unofficial exceptions to the law that really go beyond the scope of their duties. While it may have happened, I have never heard of a police officer being arrested and prosecuted for carrying illegal weapons - but we hear of that happening to other citizens all the time. I have never seen a police officer stop another for a traffic violation - but I see police officer violate traffic laws all the time - and they stop other citizens all the time. Police need to enforce the law - not find ways around it. Double standards cause problems.
I am not down on the police - the are needed and they have a tough job - and I respect them for that. But they work for the citizens and should be subject to the same standards. And people in communities all over the US are saying the same thing - many communities are forming police oversite committees to try to check abuses. The abuses are happening too often and in far too many areas for it to go on unchecked.
I carry knives (that are LEGAL in the jursidication I happen to be in) all the time but have never had a need or a desire to carry an automatic knife. It is amazing what a simple little pocketknife can do! Perhaps the LEO in question has a perceived need - I don't know, but I can't imagine what the need might be under normal circumstances. (I will admit that there might be certain circumstances in which an LEO might need an automatic knife such as on a search and rescue, rapelling, etc. but not for everyday carry). I hunt and fish, but I don't carry a sheathknife all the time, just when hunting or fishing.