Does Anyone Who Uses A Cane/Staff To Get Around Have Trouble With LE ?

2

22MEANTXGUNS22

Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Messages
47
I don't want to say anything that might be considered offensive or politically incorrect, just going to say that I'm running into trouble more and more frequently with private security and law enforcement when out and about with a cane or staff. I was told when I first started using one that there should be no problems in terms of people denying me entry to a place for having one, or people demanding an explanation as to why I need one, or any kind of hassle for using one in general, yet it's becoming more and more frequent. Just trying to figure out if I was the only one, and if this has happened to others, how they handled it.
 
I think a picture of the staff or cane might prove insightful. I would think dress and demeanor would also play a part of reception when using a cane or staff along with visual level of fitness and or shape of the user.

For example very fit, muscular guy carrying an obvious sword cane or large staff would be be placed under significantly more scrutiny than chubby old guy with a small traditional wooden cane with hook.
 
What ndmiller ndmiller said.

My mother-in-law walks hunched over, at a snail’s pace, with a hooked cane. Security rushes to open the door for her.

If you’re walking around in a bowler hat, snappy, vested tweed suit, and a gentleman’s cane, you might get a pass.

But if this is you....

HUSTLER-Adult-Costume-Mens-Pimp-The-70s.jpg
 
I've been on a cane since I was 30 years old and medically discharged from the army for reason of injuries received on active duty. I spent the last three months of my army time at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. After I learned to use a rebuilt right foot again, they kicked me out the door with a cane and told me "here kid, you're gonna need this."

Out of pure vanity, I wasn't going to use the old fogy cane they gave me, so I used a stout knarly Irish Blackthorn stick that looked like it could brain an ox. Even then, I got very few questions. Once in a very great while I had a problem with some Barney Fife level sheriffs deputy, or over zealous security guard that was a legend in his own mind. Once I even got taken into the local sheriffs office by the deputy for having a weapon. He said I was waling mourned with a club. I told him it was a cane and he said no it wasn't and he took me in. I had the pleasure of sitting in the sheriffs office while listening to the sheriff in the next office yelling and tearing a new one on the witless deputy. I got a profound apology from the sheriff and the deputy, and a letter of the apology from the department. This was in the early 80's.

After the Americans with Disabilities act, things got a lot better. Between that and political correctness, people hesitated to ask or mention it. Its been decades since I had any problem, even on airlines. At the airport, all they do is x-ray the stick to see of anything is concealed in it. Even when I was a young guy in my 30's, I had very very few problems. Walking sticks have become a minor hobby for me, and I make my own from American hornbeam, hickory, and a few maple. I use the root knobs for the handle and they all are rustic country style walking sticks. Kind of rough looking with the bark still on, just stained and sealed with spar Urathane.

Act cool and there should be no problem. I've passed through security at museums in London, the Smithsonian in D.C., Rome, New York city, Boston. I've flown all over and the flight attendants just ask me to put the stick under the seat while in flight.

Now, having said all that, I carry a cane size walking stick. I don't try to pass through security with a Gandalf staff or English quarter staff. I don't use a stick wth metal hardware on it or skull knobs. I will carry a staff while hiking, but the regular walking stick is in the car truck for when I get back to the car and we may stop at a restaurant on the way home from the hike. I also don't carry a sword cane since they are illegal about everywhere. A lot will depend on how you look and dress. I don't know you, but if you look out of the ordinary, you will be drawing unwanted attention. If you are getting hassled more and more as you say, maybe you need to examine yourself. Even living most of my life in and around Washington D.C. where things are very security orientated, I had almost no problems anywhere. Even government buildings. Since moving to Texas in 2015, I've had a lot of people open doors for me.

Self examine.
 
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When I was having problems with my hip, which was eventually replaced with an artificial one, I used a cane. Never any problems going to court or anywhere else, although I didn't fly anywhere during that time so I don't know if that would be a problem. Mine was a plain black metal cane.

I found people much more solicitous andr nicer to me when I was using my cane than when I was just limping along without one. I've had several delays (not trouble, just hand patting and additional screening) flying and going to federal court with my artificial hip. The metal trips the alarms and apparently bad asses like me generally pack their roscoes in hip holsters so they've got to be sure I'm not armed and dangerous. I don't blame them for doing their jobs, although when there is a long line and my pants are falling down because they made me take off my belt and raise my hands to be hand checked, it gets a little aggravating.
 
As J jackknife said, I would self examine. If you need a cane and are having problems, I would try to figure out why when most others don't have a problem of any kind. I keep a cane in my pickup most of the time as every now and then I have pain issues with my one knee. (Basically, I sometimes twist my knee a bit because I have neck issues and generally rotate my body versus turn my head.) But I don't use or carry one every day.

Carrying a staff is an entirely different ball game in an urban area.

Possibles.... do you appear physically fit?
Is the cane sized about right for your body?
Why do you carry a cane?
Cane design? Is the cane obviously one designed for self defense? LEO's aren't dumb.
How do you normally dress when out and about where you might use a cane?
Attitude?
Do you limp normally?
Do you have handicap plates on your vehicle?
Under what circumstances do you get "hassled" for carrying a cane? Is there a pattern?
 
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Can you elaborate on issues when using a cane vs using a staff? Wouldn't think a cane would cause much fuss, but could certainly see a staff causing issues outside say, a nature trail.
 
jlauffer said:
Can you elaborate on issues when using a cane vs using a staff? Wouldn't think a cane would cause much fuss, but could certainly see a staff causing issues outside say, a nature trail.
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Yes, let's have a look at the thing in question. Are you carrying a staff in town? That's a weird thing to do.

If you look like you're straight outta A Clockwork Orange casting, you are going to get some sidelong glances.
 
jlauffer said:
Can you elaborate on issues when using a cane vs using a staff? Wouldn't think a cane would cause much fuss, but could certainly see a staff causing issues outside say, a nature trail.
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I always get told that I don't "look disabled" and that I'm "too young" to need a cane or staff. They always want to inspect it to see if there's a sword even though they are legal in TX, I also get asked if it's a club, regardless of whether I cut them down to fit me or not, also legal in TX. If they see me walking somewhere, they demand I put my walking aid down and ask me to sit on a sidewalk, which isn't exactly easy to do or get back up from for someone who is kind of chunky and limpy. If it's at night they always question why I'm walking at night and where I'm going and where I'm coming from (I prefer evening/night walks because it's just too hot during the day). Security guards at various shopping places always pull me to the side or hold me at the entrance and radio/call in who I'm assuming is either management or their supervisor to see if I should be allowed to carry on with my shopping (one of them actually used the description "he's got some kind of walking stick that is just really hard"). I dress casual for errands, dress sharp for work, for long walks either longer than 30 minutes or covering more than a half a mile I wear a t shirt, cargo pants and use a water pack since 100+ degree weather is the norm down here. I'm soft spoken, slightly rotund, and nerdy looking, so I seriously doubt someone would look at me and consider me scary looking or intimidating in the least.

No nature trails where I'm from, but my system, if that's what you want to call it, is as follows : polypro staffs for walks lasting longer than 30 min or more than half a mile, polypro canes for errands, work, and bad weather conditions, the fancier canes with metal knobs for dress up occasions. I do own sword canes, but if anything, they're just a back up I keep in the car, and may use in the every once in a blue moon situation that is me having to run a late night errand somewhere that policy or the law prevents me from carrying in (ie, Walmart, HEB, Denny's, Whataburger).
 
Well then there is something about you that a lot of people don't like or find suspicious, be it your appearance or demeanor. If that many security and LE personnel are stopping you, you need to take a good look at yourself and ask why. Or better yet, ask some friends or colleagues why.
 
I'm at a loss to explain it. How old are you? I was in my 40s before I was carrying a cane so maybe if I was 20 I'd have had a different reaction. Do you think maybe you are being targeted for additional reasons like race or ethnicity?

You should go to your doctor and see if you can get a card or something for your disability. Sure, maybe you shouldn't have to, but it would be easier than having to explain something, just show the card.

I'm sure if you show up at a nightclub with a metal knob cane that would be a problem because a lot of clubs do have restrictions on what you can carry.
 
22MEANTXGUNS22 said:
I always get told that I don't "look disabled" and that I'm "too young" to need a cane or staff. They always want to inspect it to see if there's a sword even though they are legal in TX, I also get asked if it's a club, regardless of whether I cut them down to fit me or not, also legal in TX. If they see me walking somewhere, they demand I put my walking aid down and ask me to sit on a sidewalk, which isn't exactly easy to do or get back up from for someone who is kind of chunky and limpy. If it's at night they always question why I'm walking at night and where I'm going and where I'm coming from (I prefer evening/night walks because it's just too hot during the day). Security guards at various shopping places always pull me to the side or hold me at the entrance and radio/call in who I'm assuming is either management or their supervisor to see if I should be allowed to carry on with my shopping (one of them actually used the description "he's got some kind of walking stick that is just really hard"). I dress casual for errands, dress sharp for work, for long walks either longer than 30 minutes or covering more than a half a mile I wear a t shirt, cargo pants and use a water pack since 100+ degree weather is the norm down here. I'm soft spoken, slightly rotund, and nerdy looking, so I seriously doubt someone would look at me and consider me scary looking or intimidating in the least.

No nature trails where I'm from, but my system, if that's what you want to call it, is as follows : polypro staffs for walks lasting longer than 30 min or more than half a mile, polypro canes for errands, work, and bad weather conditions, the fancier canes with metal knobs for dress up occasions. I do own sword canes, but if anything, they're just a back up I keep in the car, and may use in the every once in a blue moon situation that is me having to run a late night errand somewhere that policy or the law prevents me from carrying in (ie, Walmart, HEB, Denny's, Whataburger).
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What aren't you telling us?

Like I said, I was just 30 when I got my medical discharge, and after a while I wasn't limping that bad or noticeable, until much later in life. And after the AWDA was passed, it became very unwise to question someone on a Cane. What are you doing that is making people hincky about you?

I have one suggestion. I looked on your web page where you do the videos of the Cold Steel stuff you carry. Ditch the Cold Steel street commando stuff. They look cheesy, and they ARE designed as weapons under a thin disguise. Those metal knobbed city sticks look like what they are, 'bass a$$' wannabe stuff. As for sword canes, I haven't seen one yet that wasn't obvious if you gave it a second look and they are illegal most places. If you need a weapon that bad, go get your license and carry a gun. After living in the Peoples Republik Of Marylandistan for most my life, the very first thing I did on moving to Texas was go get my license to carry.

Contrary to what most of the fan base of Cold Steel products think, the cops do get the memos. They know what they are looking at, and carrying something like that makes you look hinkey to them. I know because my youngest boy is a police officer and my daughter is a parole agent for adult felons and deals with some real low life types. They get all the memo's on disguised weapons like plastic knives, knives in pens, sword canes, canes designed for high impact weapon use, and all the rest of the mall punk and keyboard commando junk.

And ditch the large staff for city use. It makes you look weird and cops go by looks. If a package looks weird, check it out. Soooo, you get checked out a lot. Go get a normal cane and try it for a while and see what. happens. If you know what your doing with a stick, you don't need that Cold Steel junk. Go by the drug store and get a normal cane, and cut some wood off to open up the crook a bit.
 
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Shann said:
I'm at a loss to explain it. How old are you? I was in my 40s before I was carrying a cane so maybe if I was 20 I'd have had a different reaction. Do you think maybe you are being targeted for additional reasons like race or ethnicity?

You should go to your doctor and see if you can get a card or something for your disability. Sure, maybe you shouldn't have to, but it would be easier than having to explain something, just show the card.

I'm sure if you show up at a nightclub with a metal knob cane that would be a problem because a lot of clubs do have restrictions on what you can carry.
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I was thinking the same thing—or if he has an engraved medic alert bracelet, maybe he could show them the condition requiring a cane or it may say uses cane, like wears contacts, etc., just to save sitting on the curb or other problems.

Maybe local law enforcement can advise.

Frankly, anyone who says they don't "see" anything or you don't "look" disabled is not too swift, so maybe the rest of their equation is equally ignorant.
 
annr said:
I was thinking the same thing—or if he has an engraved medic alert bracelet, maybe he could show them the condition requiring a cane or it may say uses cane, like wears contacts, etc., just to save sitting on the curb or other problems.

Maybe local law enforcement can advise.

Frankly, anyone who says they don't "see" anything or you don't "look" disabled is not too swift, so maybe the rest of their equation is equally ignorant.
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Yeah, someone saying they don't see anything wrong with you is asking for a law suit these days. Under the AWDA it is not lawful to inquire or ask for proof of a disability. No way, no how. And theres a ton of medical conditions that you look fine, but ain't. A head injury that affects balance, back injury like a disk problem or nerve damage can have you on a cane.

And, theres a ton of young guys now from Iraq and Afghanistan that are injured vets, and need a cane. As a 50% disabled vet, I get my health care at the local VA hospital. I see young guys in their 20's now limping around with a cane from injuries that they got in the sandbox as they call it. One guy, looking young enough that he should be out back of the Taste Freeze with Becky Sue after school, was getting down the hall on a fake leg that had one of those ice skate looking foot things, and he was using a cane because he wasn't quite used to the prothesis yet. He wasn't even hardly limping, but it was a question of balance.

You just can't tell by looking at someone. Bit it's rude M.F.'er to ask. Not to mention illegal.

Edit to add; and if you are at all concerned, take down the Youtube videos of you twirling and posing with your sticks while breaking bricks and stabbing cardboard boxes. It makes you look like an amateur Lynn Thomson imitator and a bit ridiculous. It displays intent on your part with weapon use, and they will be in a court of law, inflammatory. Frankly bud, they make you look like a mall ninja.

Let me leave you with a final thought;

"Plausible Deniability. "

Right now, with those videos around, you have none.
 
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I had an uncle that carried a printed card saying he was deaf/mute. He wasn't - he could hear and talk just fine, but he presented it with a quizzical look at any cop that ever stopped him about anything. He always said "if there's anything cops dislike and seek to get away from more than somebody who is unable to hear their blather and unable to answer their questions I dunno what it would be". This would be in the 1960's, I'm not sure how that would go over today.
If you're experiencing regular harassment by a smaller local PD over a cane, nothing would put a stop to it quicker than you "falling and requiring medical attention" during an unsolicited interaction where you were deprived of your cane by LE. The second a municipality has to get lawyers on the phone and worry about a settlement is usually the exact second you become a "good citizen" and won't be bothered anymore. All this of course only works as long as you aren't locally demonstrating your martial prowess with a cane (showing off, twirling, whipping it around like a ninja, etc.)
 
jackknife said:
Edit to add; and if you are at all concerned, take down the Youtube videos of you twirling and posing with your sticks while breaking bricks and stabbing cardboard boxes. It makes you look like an amateur Lynn Thomson imitator and a bit ridiculous. It displays intent on your part with weapon use, and they will be in a court of law, inflammatory. Frankly bud, they make you look like a mall ninja.

Let me leave you with a final thought;

"Plausible Deniability. "

Right now, with those videos around, you have none.
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The above quoted text is good advice...

You should listen.



ref:

 
Leave the staffs at home. They are weapons. No sword canes. Use a regular cane if you need one to walk. I am assuming that the video above is "you". You don't look fat or limpy. Get rid of the mall ninja videos. They would convict you in court if there is any doubt on what you did.

Carry a gun if you're worried about self defense assuming you are legally allowed to do so.
 
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