Talk:Knife legislation

Japan: Katana are not offensive weapons?

Somehow I consider the following unlikely:

"With the exception of Japanese Katana, any other swords are regarded as offensive weapons. However, if they have artistic value, possession is legal as long as the sword is registered."

So Japanese katana, artistic value or not, are not regarded as offensive weapons, and any civilian may carry them in public without a police officer bothering them? Was the Meiji-era Haitō edict ever officially overturned, then? And why don't I see modern-day swordsmen parading around the streets of Tokyo on a daily basis? 82.111.241.126 13:55, 11 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

"Legal" and "police officers won't bother you" are two very, very different things, especially in countries like Japan. Elmo iscariot (talk) 19:07, 3 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

To try to be slightly more helpful, there are two reasons that "not an offensive weapon" makes more sense than it might seem. First, "offensive weapon" is often a legal term covering specific kinds of weapons. So a country can, for example, call handguns and switchblades "offensive weapons" which are illegal to own, while making other weapons (like katanas or, say, double barreled shotguns) less restricted. This wouldn't necessarily mean you can carry a katana or shotgun down the street. Second, again, there are many things that aren't illegal but that you won't see people doing on a daily basis. In my home state of New Jersey in the US, for example, the concealed carry of handguns is effectively banned for at present, but it's perfectly legal for me to walk down the street with a rifle slung over my shoulder. Still, I've never in my life seen anybody carrying a rifle in public here. If anybody tried, I guarantee he'd be tackled by police and dragged through as much traumatic legal procedure as they could possibly justify. Many legal activities simply aren't done due to public disapproval or to extrajudicial pressure from the justice system. Elmo iscariot (talk) 20:10, 9 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

UK court of final appeal changes

Should: <<As the only higher court in England and Wales is the [[House of Lords]>> now read: <<As the only higher court in England and Wales WAS the [[House of Lords]>> ? Wikdane (talk) 15:15, 5 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

well, shouldn't it just be changed to the supreme court?--UltraMagnus (talk) 20:23, 5 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

some more details

Can someone put this stuff in here? They have references, too. http://edcforums.com/showthread.php/62117-Knife-laws-throughout-Europe?s=4ccdbca44a96a901da713c591b24d874 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.1.128.139 (talk) 13:48, 6 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]

United Kingdom

Referring to the final sentence:

"Swiss Army Knives with locking blades are illegal to carry in the UK and the crown prosecution service have attempted to prosecute policemen, hikers and picnickers who possess such weapons" [15][16]

I can find nothing in either reference to support this statement (i.e. that locking 'Swiss Army' knives are illegal in the UK). The statement also appears to contradict earlier wording that states that lockable blades expelled by springs, gravity assistance or 'centrifugal' force (Swiss Army knives do not operate in these ways) are illegal . Clarification would be appreciated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.22.210.170 (talk) 07:19, 25 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

swords

sevral sites link to this page to refer to the legality of carrying swords in public but this page isnt too specific n them, its mostly about switch blades and such. are there even any specific laws about swords? 69.115.204.217 (talk) 01:32, 16 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Thats a good question; I have the same question on knives in pensykvania in Pensylvania law. 68.70.14.63 (talk) 14:27, 4 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

England and Wales

There is a section of this article titled England and Wales but there is no mention of the law in Scotland. Is there a distinction between the law in England and Wales and the law in Scotland or should this section be called the United Kingdom? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ossamauk (talk • contribs) 17:59, 12 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Canadian Weapon Laws

Nothing actually defines a knife, after some searching, I found this useful document http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-98-462/page-3.html#h-4 part 4 defines melee weapons. 142.163.152.226 (talk) 06:58, 15 June 2011 (UTC) Italic text[reply]

UK on Swiss Army Knives

Regarding this line:

Swiss Army Knives with locking blades are illegal to carry 'without good reason' in the UK and the crown prosecution service have attempted to prosecute policemen, hikers and picnickers who possess such items without a specific and immediate reason.[10][11]

It is true that SAKs with locking blades are illegal to carry 'without good reason' in public places in the UK (CJA S139). However, it is likely that hikers and picnickers will in many cases have "good reason" and the two citations are extremely flawed examples.

The first citation refers to a case in which the subject actually had a Buck Whittaker lock knife (not an SAK) and the police had received a report that he had threatened someone with it.

The second citation refers to a case in which the subject had a non-locking SAK in his hand luggage. It does not refer to locking SAKs as per the first line, and the issue here is carrying the knife through airport security, not a general carrying-in-public issue.

Recommend we delete from "and the crown..." unless someone objects...