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College Students Defenseless

G

greenie

Joined
Mar 6, 1999
Messages
109
The college my son attends does not allow students to carry knives. The school is in a high crime area in an upstate NY city. My only observation is that I am glad I do not currently have a DAUGHTER in school.

Rules or no rules, I gave my son a Gerber "Easy-Out" como blade, and he carries it discreetly.

I am interested in the thoughts of others on this. I can see both sides of the argument I guess.
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"Walk softly and carry a big stick"...TR

 
greenie,

I attend Ohio State, and they have a similar policy. In fact, I have to fill out a waiver to bring an bo staff to campus for my martial arts class. I always get stopped by bike cops who want to know where they can get one
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This wouldn't be as big a deal if I still lived on campus, as crime on campus is essentially limited to people running off with bookbags left on tables, and the occasional DUI.

cross the street, however, and you're right smack in the middle of a nasty ghetto. recently, the number of muggings/assaults has increased quite a bit as the gang kids start to move closer to campus.

I carry a BM Ascent with me at all times-- campus or not-- as well as an ASP baton in my jacket. The only time I've ever been asked anything about what I carry was when i had my Gerber multitool sheath on my belt, and i was asked to unsheath it. Said the officer: "nice multitool." None of the other hardware has been noticed.

Best advice: when on campus, leave your cutlery in your pockets
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use a tiny SAK if you have to in front of people. Campus police are so understaffed, the last thing they have time for is to shake down everyone for folders. Just blend in, and no one will care.. most people think my clipit is a pager.

Just make sure your son understands the concept of meeting force with equal force in terms of the law. My only problem in 4 years was a vagrant who wanted a shoving match, and then received a whack to the throat for his actions. fileting bad guys is sometimes frowned on depending on the political attitude of your area
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Hope this helps a little...
tom
 
I go to a small college in CT, and I usully like to carry some folder with me, although I'm not completely clear on CT laws regarding knives or my school's (I now someone - memnoch I think - posted a report on CT laws, I have to go back and look for that now). I used to carry a knife clipped to my front pocket, but I got tired of being asked what it was, it always caused more trouble that it was worth, so I began to carry it IWB in the middle of my back - I don't want to get into any trouble with concealed weaponed either. Someone then pointed out that it is sometimes hard to access my knife quickly from there, so I switched to IWB in front of me, but it's pretty visible again.

Other than that quandry, I haven't really had problems yet. Also, I do not carry my knife for self-defense reasons. However, there have been stabbings around my school (not students), so I am at least aware of it.
pk

ps. I went out last night to party with some friends, and they insisted on taking my knife away from me while I was, well, less than sober. I was a little upset, and tried to explain that I don't carry it to "poke people," but I obliged. The neat thing is, the person who held it for me, who used to feel uncomfortable around knives, spent some time with my knife and is actually beginning to like and understand it.
 
My school does not really specify too much in it's fact finder..."unauthorized explosives, firearms chemecals and devices"...pretty vague, and I am sure it was ment to be that way...I carry My Cetan on my belt, along with my leatherman...and my VG...I do try to be somewhat discreet with my toys...A counselor saw my Cetan and said "Knives are Illegal here." I pointed to hey keychain Mace and said "So is that, along with your little Keychain SAK.." It is a good thing she likes me I guess, she could have raised a big fuss over it.

Our campus is well known to be a "Feeding Ground" for sex offenders. It is a shame that the female students have to be defenseless here...

YeK

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"Will Dremel for Food!!"
"No, it's a Vaquero Grande in my pocket, but I am happy to see you!"
yekimak@hotmail.com
MegaFolderians Unite!!
Dyslexics Untie!




 
I think a good pepper spray would work better in this case. Right now, I am carrying a 3-ouncer with finger index and flip top.

I would definitely go and find out what's the exact policy surrounding "weapons". Sometimes, "knives" don't include folders, as it is the case with me. In fact, in the college I am in, it is very common to see people with folders clipped in their pocket. If folders are strictly forbidden, my opinion is that it would be better off if you son does not carry folders for defense (which is what I assume the folder is partly for). The likely legal problems he may face is simply not worth having the knife in the first place.

And please don't take this the wrong way, for I do not mean to be offensive. In fact, it's not even germaine to the topic, but I don't think a Gerber EZ-out is good for defense. Far too easy for the hands to slide into the blade, and just as easy for the blade lock to fail. By giving your son the Gerber, you may be placing him in danger of hurting himself, to say nothing of the possible legal repercussions.
 
greenie -- you might consider giving your son a small neck knife. an Outdoor Edge Wedge would do, i think.

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better yet, consider enrolling him in one of martial arts school in your area...

just my $.02

[This message has been edited by Titan (edited 28 March 1999).]
 
greenie,
For my .02 cents, if I was interpreting a situation that was becoming hostile, I simply would turn away and run. Sounds whimpy, but at least I will live another day to talk about it. Extra bonus for not fighting are not dealing with law suits and other funny things about our law system. I personally think that a SAK with sissors would be perfect for school work ie.(laboratory,cutting paper for whatever)
Endre

Gotta to love Mom's kimchee
 
re: running the other way-
I'm short and fat, I don't think I'm up for a race against a street thug. Like many college campuses, mine happens to be smack dab in the middle of the city, and bad things happen in the city. I think everyone would rather turn and run the other way (save a few psychos with something to prove)- the point of carrying any weapon is not to wait for someone to attack, but to have a backup in case you happen to be up against the wall with no way out.

that being said, I dunno if my campus allows weapons or not. being a liberal left-wing university I doubt it. I carry a MT mini-socom or BM 3500SBT. My wife carries a stiff KISS positioned for easy draw in the outer pocket of her purse. (cool knife, she wrapped it in pink paracord. I guess it's the Ms. KISS
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) We also have pepper spray on our keychains.

[This message has been edited by DCPotts (edited 28 March 1999).]
 
I guess I was lucky in the fact that my college really did not care too much about weapons. Of course knives,guns etc were not allowed in the dorms, but most people carried something (ie pepper spray, knife, baton). I carried my stryker most of the time and never had any problems. And once you lived off campus, you could have anything you wanted. There weren't any rules that I know of that restricted carry in class rooms, just the dorms. Then again, I went to West Virginia Universtity. Most people had shotguns in their trucks, so a little knife didn't get a second look.

Rich
 
Greenie, I would be careful about handing out an EZ-OUT as a weapon. I have found that the spring in the lockback mechanism will wear out with time, and then the lock will become so weak a tap on the knee is all you need to render it useless. Also, if the knife is gripped tightly, the fleshy part of your hand will push into the locking bar, and that isn't good. In spite of all these problems, it's a good utility knife, just be careful about using it as a weapon.

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 29 March 1999).]
 
I've been carrying the Sebenza lately but it is being traded out for a MAD DOG Wombat. I will be carrying that on campus. Rules or no rules, I'm going to carry my knife. I just try to conceal the best I can.

When my MD Mako gets to me from resheathing, I will be carrying it whenever I am wearing a belt.

Tim
 
defenceless college student? ha ha ha. nuts, that i am. defenceless is one thing im not.

daily carry. a MT socom, spring baton, cs ready edge.

sometimes add a stiff kiss or soon maby a mad dog FF. and a can of peper spray.

e-z outs pardon my expression are P.O.S. knives
mine closed on my hand and that got meinto benchmades.

id rather have a 970 or 975 or a 710 for defence rather than a e-z out.

a martial art school for your son would be a great idea. id rather have good martial art training and a deleca than a spyderco military and no training.

well id rather have a BM 710 and training but thats not the point.

rules be damed. if im going to be out and about i dont expect campus police to be escorting me everywhere.

Sacred heart in fairfield is prety safe but i dont take chances. i like breathing to much to do that.


[This message has been edited by memnoch (edited 29 March 1999).]
 
This issue bothers me too guys. I am a student at Mississippi State University. Our rules are pretty vague on weapons too, but I still always carry my CQC7 and Ive carried my new Vaquero a couple of times since I got it yesterday. I agree with many other members here and will continue to carry my knives even if the weapons rules become not-so-vague. Its better to possibly have to deal with legal trouble than for your familiy to have to deal your funeral arrangements. Its kind of funny how people always say that "College prepares you for the real world" when most colleges have enacted these ignorant types of "protective" anti-knife and gun rules.
 
I'll bite, the bitterness and attitudes of those I go to school with affected me and reflected the outside world.

I talked to a fellow in Australia about how religious groups knock on doors, come on campus, talk to people on the street, and bus in the city. He couldn't believe it. I tell people that homeless individuals have come on campus asking for donations and that women have been raped and killed in the dorms and that campus police department is actually making improvements to campus security. Most people can't believe that.

What I can't believe is how the media gives out news in short sound bites.
 
I went to little private school in Iowa with a group of horrendous sex predators and the usually townie troubles and also the occasional racially motivated attack. Nice behavior for "A little slice of New England on an Iowa Hilltop." Anyone can figure that out if they care to and it has not gotten better since I left. Add frat trouble and pledging issues, ooh boy!

I do not recall what the rules were regrading knives, but I went in 1988 to start and for the first three years carried an AG Russell one hand knife. Very nice till the lock wore out. I moved to a Spyder Endura and BJ folder, gave the BJ to someone who needed it more. I still carry an Endura and most likely always will. For my money, it is the most price efficient slicer on the planet, perhaps being excepted by the ontario machetes and K-Bars.

If you are going to have your son carry at school, I agree. Gerber is POS and needs immediate upgrade to Endura, either new or old model. If we are concerned about defensive issues, get the serrated blade, as it lterally chews thru anything. Have your son study some sort of edge defensive stuff, and also maybe get him the best fixed blade in the world for a budget, a K-Bar. Practice cutting pepsi cases repeatedly and he will do fine. Practice is more important than equipment, I would rather have a sharp stake (and my spyder, and K-bar, and..)I just snapped off the construction site I am passing thru and great training than some great blade and none.

Endre, does Mom let that Kimchee ferment for a while? Lets get the fire going and do upo the sokogie while were are at it.

 
I went to little private school in Iowa with a group of horrendous sex predators and the usually townie troubles and also the occasional racially motivated attack. Nice behavior for "A little slice of New England on an Iowa Hilltop." Anyone can figure that out if they care to and it has not gotten better since I left. Add frat trouble and pledging issues, ooh boy!

I do not recall what the rules were regrading knives, but I went in 1988 to start and for the first three years carried an AG Russell one hand knife. Very nice till the lock wore out. I moved to a Spyder Endura and BJ folder, gave the BJ to someone who needed it more. I still carry an Endura and most likely always will. For my money, it is the most price efficient slicer on the planet, perhaps being excepted by the ontario machetes and K-Bars.

If you are going to have your son carry at school, I agree. Gerber is POS and needs immediate upgrade to Endura, either new or old model. If we are concerned about defensive issues, get the serrated blade, as it lterally chews thru anything. Have your son study some sort of edge defensive stuff, and also maybe get him the best fixed blade in the world for a budget, a K-Bar. Practice cutting pepsi cases repeatedly and he will do fine. Practice is more important than equipment, I would rather have a sharp stake (and my spyder, and K-bar, and..)I just snapped off the construction site I am passing thru and great training than some great blade and none.

Stay away form neck blades as a primary carry, particularly paracord. Easy to be choked to death with it. Oh, and your son does have a right to be safe. Teach him to quietly walk away first, run second and fight only when unavoidable.
Endre, does Mom let that Kimchee ferment for a while? Lets get the fire going and do upo the sokogie while were are at it.

 
Sorry about multiples--not so computer literatre nor friendly.

Titan, thanks for neck carry link. Wish I knew how to link, but I spend too much time playing on computer as is. Many more options than perhaps i realzed, particularly anzo carry. Reminds me not to limit my perspective.

Parker



[This message has been edited by Parker (edited 31 March 1999).]
 
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