COPS!

[cerulean]

I saw an episode of "COPS" last night where a dude got arrested for carrying a balisong.

It was a rerun of an episode that first aired several years ago.

The "bad guy" was sitting on a bench at a bus stop in Las Vegas. Two bicycle cops rode by and one noticed a butterfly knife sticking out of his back pocket. They said that the knife was illegal and arrested him on the spot. Weren't very nice about it either, as they roughed the "bad guy" up a bit. (The "bad guy" tried to smoke a cigarette while handcuffed, which was punished by a prolonged choke hold

)

Funny thing is that the cop who took the knife immediately proceeded to play with it- flipping it around while changing grips and stuff. Obviously, The cop was a balisong owner or at least had extensive experience with the knife.

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Cerulean

"Just because some folks think you make great kydex sheaths doesn't make you into some sort of mind reading psychologist." -Paracelsus

 

[Rob104]

I saw the same episode and was upset by what I saw. I am a LEO so I speak from experience. The officers showed no compassion to the "bad guy" at all. I understand that they did not make the law that made the knife illigal, but my god! I would never take someone to jail for simply carrying a butterfly knife. If they were caught committing a crime while in possession of the knife that is different. As a final note, I wonder if the female officer would have used the choke hold if the suspect was not hancuffed behind his back? I doubt it. The whole episode embarrased me and gives good cops everywhere a bad name. But, maybe I take things to seriuosly.

 

[arkhamdrifter]

Bummer for the "bad guy". This is what concerns me these days regarding knife carry. I assume that Balisongs were in fact illegal where this episode of COPS took place but what about other knives? When I lived in FL I would on occassion carry a folder but I had a CCL which kinda helps. I have talked to several police officers I know and each has their own version of what's legal to carry and how. Some say a single edge blade under 4" on a folder is legal as long as it is carried in plain view such as on a belt. Others say no way. Some say if a guy happened to have a folder in his pocket that was noticed but he wasnt breaking the law they would'nt bother. Who's right? Who knows! I do know that alot of it is left to the discretion of the officer on the spot.

Rob231,
No I don't think you take things too seriously. Your right. Police are a vital part of any community that's why its so important to have good guys doing their job professionally. Jamming someone up with a choke hold because a camera crew is there is an abuse of power. That officer is actually lucky that the guy in cuffs wasn't more savvy or she might have been looking down the wrong end of a lawsuit against her, the department, the city...Well you know how these things go.

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Usual Suspect

 

[Hermit]

Come on guys, it's Hollywierd where nothing is real but still affects your lives more than you will ever know. Thanks to Hollywood we have the "switchblade act", laws against gravity knives. Laws about length, 200,000 useless laws, etc.. Main thing is in all 50 states no matter what the law is there is always "Officer Discretion". Now this can be a good or a bad thing but the best way to handle it is to cooperate, be polite and not have done something wrong to start with. Chances are you will walk away with your bali even if it is illegal. But one single small smart ass remark and your done.

Hermit

 

[Clay]

Sounds to me like the officer gets a lot a Balisong practice........ by "strong arming" them out of innocent peoples hands.

I will say though, I've lost quite a few of them that way myself. Cop with an attitude, routine traffic stop, nothing else to get me on....... Hey, look, a Balisong. GET OUT OF THE CAR........... GET DOWN ON THE GROUND, GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!

........... and what kills me is, I'm always nice. Officer this and officer that, Yes officer, No officer. But as soon as they see that Balisong............ WHAM! And this is even AFTER they run the background check and come up empty.

Thats why I only carry cheap Balisongs on me in public. Easily replaced, ya' know what I mean?? AND I always use two hands to open them when an officer asks.

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Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!