knife laws Archives - A Straight Arrow

State of Alaska Knife Laws

Dan Lee Williams — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 15:39:15 +0000

The State of Alaska is known by many as the “Last Frontier” of the United States of America as many thousands of square miles are untouched by the human hand and has a thriving wilderness that grasps the imagination and takes hold to roots of survival and humans’ most basic instincts. The knife laws related to the State of Alaska have maintained a similar headline over the years, continuing into 2016 and beyond as what is known as a “Knife-Friendly” State. As the probability of encountering a large animal in Alaska, such as a moose, bear, or caribou is significantly greater than any other state in the lower United States, knife laws help to protect citizens of Alaska by allowing individuals to carry almost anything that they want in the realm of knives. Alaska goes so far as to publish on its Fish and Game Website the aggressive behavior identified by moose and how they may respond to different situations.

Of the many types of knives available to Alaska consumers and consumers throughout the United States, there are only two types of knives that are identified as being illegal in the State of Alaska- gravity knives and switchblade knives. Based on a multitude of legal rulings in the State of Alaska over the course of time, there has also been a slight “Legal gray area” identified in the realm of knife laws throughout the state. There are two clear definitions of a deadly weapon that must be identified together in order to be considered a deadly weapon and therefore allow for individuals to carry and conceal a full spectrum of knives in Alaska as long as they do not fall into the gravity or switchblade category.

First, the State of Alaska has identified that a deadly weapon must be a weapon or similar item that, if used against another human being, can cause significant physical injury or death. Additionally, the weapon or item must be identified as being in use, attempted use, or threatened use, in order to be considered a deadly weapon. This creates a “gray area” for legality purposes as a knife can be considered a non-deadly weapon if it is sitting in a concealed pocket that is not being used for threatening purposes, attempted purposes, or actions against another human being. This legal ruling allows for individuals in Alaska to carry, with confidence, a multitude of knives including, but not limited to, bailsongs, stilettos, Bowie knives, and pocket knives.

Essentially, in a state that understands that individuals have a higher-than-average likelihood of running into large mammals that can be potentially dangerous, the state statutes and regulations identified and developed in relation to knives has adjusted and maintained accordingly to the needs of the citizens within the state. The knife-friendly mentality of Alaska knife law helps to provide a resourceful and supportive relationship amongst hunters, hobbyist, and knife enthusiasts, alike, in a state that may be the “Last Frontier,” but helps to set an example for knife-friendly states for others to follow.

This information that is presented as a brief description of the laws and not as any kind of legal advice. aStraightArrow will not and cannot be a legal service provider. The use of the site does not create any sort of client/lawyer relationship. The knife laws are interpreted differently by prosecuting attorneys, enforcement officers, and judges. aStraightArrow suggests you consult legal counsel for further guidance.

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Arizona State Knife Laws

Dan Lee Williams — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 10:52:43 +0000

Recognized with the best knife laws in comparison to all 50 states for ways of knife owners and carriers, Arizona is considered to be the top in knife ownership. The availability of a wide assortment of blade options for individuals to either own, carry concealed, or in the open without hesitation helps to provide the fundamental support to this vision of Arizona being at the top of the list for knife-availability. On the local level, there are no municipal laws in place within the State of Arizona, providing additional peace of mind for knife carriers that may be otherwise worried about differences between cities and potential volatility among county lines.

Let’s take a closer look at the specific items that are considered under Arizona state law to be illegal when carrying knives. By exploring these areas first, it will help one to see the open-nature of knife ownership in the State of Arizona.

Knives and Regulations Defining Legality in the State of Arizona

First and foremost, it has been identified within the state of Arizona that an individual under the age of 21 is not allowed to carry a non-pocket knife concealed. Examples may include, but would not be limited to, an individual under the age of 21 concealing a stiletto or Bowie knife, that would fall outside the realm of what is understood as a pocket knife. Additionally, it is illegal to bring a knife into a school within the State of Arizona, whether it be an individual under the age of 21 or over the age of 21. Think of there being an invisible force field around every school that prohibits and knives from crossing over it- that would be the Arizona law.

The final item in the illegal and legality range with respect to carrying knives within the State of Arizona would be referred to when being stopped by a police officer. In the State of Arizona, if an individual is stopped or pulled over by a police officer and they are carrying or concealing a knife beyond a pocket knife, they must disclose this information immediately to the police officer, otherwise, they may face considerable punishment by the course of the law.

Defining what is Legal in the State of Arizona

After being able to better understand what is clearly illegal within the state boundaries of Arizona, one can begin to imagine the scope of legal abilities in knife ownership and carrying abilities, either in the open or concealed. Upon reaching the age of 21, it is legal for anyone over 21 to carry knives concealed or in the open of any length including switchblades, Bowie Knives, gravity knives, stilettos, Balisong knives, and pocket knives. This does not limit additional knives that can be mentioned but opens up the availability of self-protection or specified use to a wide range of availability for citizens within the State of Arizona.

For one looking to seek the highest available knife-carrying laws and ownership, look no further than the State of Arizona.

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State of Colorado Knife Laws

Dan Lee Williams — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 11:09:13 +0000

The roots of the “Old West” carry deep in the heart of laws developed by the State of Colorado with a clear inclusion of knives that would be used for the purpose of hunting and fishing as well as general use or self-defense knives. The development of wide application within knife laws also causes for some complication in the full understanding of what type of knives one can carry either open or concealed within the state of Colorado. Let’s slice further into the details of what Colorado considers to be either permissible or banned in the land of the “Old West.”

Knives that are Legal to Own in Colorado

The simplest understanding of Colorado knife laws in being able to fall into accordance with regulation is to follow the measurement rule of 3.5 inches. If you have a knife with a blade length of less than 3.5 inches, you are in the clear; however, if your blade length is greater than 3.5 inches, you cannot legally conceal the knife. The tricky part within this law is where exclusions apply. In the 2016 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fact Sheet, it was recognized that Colorado residents and visitors participated in over 222 Million statewide outdoor activity days, including tent camping, fishing, and hunting. During these events that millions of individuals partake upon, it is often critical for the carrying of a knife that is greater than 3.5 inches in length. This is where exceptions to the rule come into play for the State of Colorado.

When being used for the purpose of fishing and hunting, any length of the knife is legal to carry in the state of Colorado. So when a fisherman is looking to be able to fillet their freshly caught trout on an open stream high in the Rocky Mountains, they can be assured that it is legal to carry a knife with a blade longer than 3.5 inches to get the job done properly. Likewise, a hunter that is either protecting him or herself or is looking to be able to properly break down a big game kill after a successful hunt will have peace of mind in carrying a knife that will be sufficient during the hunt. In the respect to hunting and fishing, Colorado has helped to keep true to the needs of the “Old West,” but has relinquished some knife ownership abilities on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Knives that are Illegal to Own in Colorado

As developed in Colorado State Law 18-12-102, it is illegal for a person to possess a “Gravity knife” that has been designed with a blade-release held from either the handle or sheath with a force of either gravity or centrifugal force. In addition to a “Gravity knife,” it is also illegal in the state of Colorado to possess a “Switchblade knife” that would open automatically based on applied hand pressure or the release through a button or spring in the knife’s handle. These two types of knives have been deemed by the State of Colorado to be “dangerous weapon” and therefore unlawful to have in possession at any given time.

To stay within the laws of Colorado, it is best to stay within measurement guidelines of 3.5 inches unless used for the purpose of hunting and fishing, in which the rules expand to fit what is needed by the individual carrying the knife.

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State of Alabama Knife Laws

Dan Lee Williams — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 14:56:51 +0000

There are a wide spectrum of state laws across the United States identifying what type of knives are either legal or illegal to carry within the state’s borders; in the State of Alabama, the state code is simplified to one type of knife that is essentially illegal to carry, opening the discussion to what is legal at a much greater level as compared to other states. Within Alabama State Code, identified under Section 13A-11-50 in “Carrying Concealed Weapons,” Alabama restricts the concealment of what is known as a bowie knife, or other likewise or similar knives. A bowie knife is recognized as a longer knife, normally 10 inches or longer, with a double-edged at the point and can many times be compared to what is often referred to as a machete. In combination to concealing a bowie knife, Alabama State Code also prohibits any individual from selling a bowie knife to someone under the age of 18 and is likewise illegal for someone under the age of 18 to purchase a bowie knife. However, in the State of Alabama, if one so desires to own a bowie knife or bowie-type knife, and have it in the safety of their home and not concealed on their person, this would be identified as a legal act within the state borders, as long as the knife was also not concealed in a vehicle.

Once it has been identified as to what is actually illegal in the State of Alabama- a Bowie Knife- it can be easily recognizable as to what is legal in the State of Alabama, which is everything else. As one of the easiest states to carry a knife in for self-defense or other purposes, the State of Alabama provides a wide range of knife carrying options for its citizens. A double sided knife, switchblade or gravity knife, stiletto or toothpick knife, folding knife, and out the front knife, are all considered to be legal in the State of Alabama. For the ease of carrying ability for Alabama citizens, the State Code provides a multitude of options for someone to carry as long as that individual understands the likewise simplicity of what is illegal- a Bowie Knife.

Recognized as one of the most lenient states for knife laws, Alabama’s strictest knife law against the Bowie knife actually originated in the late 1800’s when the state was concerned that citizens may start dueling in the streets with Bowies or similar-type knives. With this thought in mind, it has been identified further that police and legal mentality in the state of Alabama is drastically open in comparison to many other states when it comes to carrying and concealing knives and it is only when a police officer has a suspicion of potential crime that there would actually be any type of recourse or additional action, even in the event of carrying a Bowie knife. When considering which state to travel for some of the best knife carrying laws and regulations, place Alabama at the top of the list.

This information that is presented as a brief description of the laws and not as any kind of legal advice. Brothersmith.com will not and cannot be a legal service provider. The use of the site does not create any sort of client/lawyer relationship. The knife laws are interpreted differently by prosecuting attorneys, enforcement officers, and judges. Brothersmith.com suggests you consult legal counsel for further guidance.

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