Rhode Island Law (Open Carry)

[Peacockangel]

I'd like to but a large knife to carry openly in public in Rhode Island. I'm a woman, and I had a nasty run in with a very creepy naked man (in public walking home at night). I've no intention of using it as a weapon (unless in a truly desperate situation, we do have stand your ground laws in this state). I've bought pepper spray, but pepper spray is innocuous looking and not a deterrent, I figure a big knife, carried openly on my person would limit the likelihood of men like this choosing to target me as a victim. I have no desire to conceal the weapon, in fact it's major use to me is the intimidation factor of carrying it displayed

Is this legal? I know the max length for concealed carry is 3 inches, but I feel like a 3 inch knife is so small that it wouldn't have the desired deterrent effect.

I'd much rather have something that allows me to avoid the confrontation rather than having to use my pepper spray. I like to take walks in the evening and I don't like the idea of having to have a curfew when I walk by myself because of my gender.

 

[glistam]

Under state law, if the knife is openly carried and is not carried with intent to use unlawfully against another, it is legal. There are no other open carry restrictions unless possession outright is banned. State law can be read here: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE11/11-47/11-47-42.HTM

However, there are some caveats.

1. It is possible for local cities to restrict carry. For example in South Kingston it is illegal to possess any knife with a blade over 3" in a park, even if it is carried openly.
2. While you say "I've no intention of using it as a weapon" the police are unlikely to believe you if the knife's styling and environment in which is carried suggest otherwise. You do not typically see people in heavily urbanized areas carried big combat knives. Further, your intended purpose of keeping it as a deterrent and weapon of last resort still counts as carrying it as a weapon.
3. Some cops are stupid and will bother you for open carry even if it's not against the law.
4. Some civilians are stupid and will call the cops on you or ask you to leave their store.
5. Open carry has limited deterrent effect depending on the expected threat. A raving lunatic, like your prior encounter, may be oblivious to the fact that you are armed at all. Whereas a cunning criminal would see the knife from a distance and simply change tactics: employing a ruse of some sort to get close and then disable your ability to use it.

 

[Peacockangel]

He was clearly not insane, he attempted to avoid being photographs and ran when I called the police. Perversion unfortunately does not equal insanity, preferential rapists are rarely delusional or prone to hallucinations. They tend to choose vulnerable targets (like say a woman walking home alone at night)

An object intended for self defense counts as use as a weapon *sigh* god that's a bit silly

 

[glistam]

He was clearly not insane, he attempted to avoid being photographs and ran when I called the police. Perversion unfortunately does not equal insanity, preferential rapists are rarely delusional or prone to hallucinations. They tend to choose vulnerable targets (like say a woman walking home alone at night)

A person doesn't have to be insane, delusional or hallucinating to disregard their own safety and/or be unfazed by the sight of a knife. Sometimes people are so arrogant they think they can get you anyway.

An object intended for self defense counts as use as a weapon *sigh* god that's a bit silly

Well, it does say "with intent to use unlawfully against another." Self-defense is not unlawful. But again, remember some cops are dumb.

 

[G-Winstead]

I think so, butr I'll look it up