I just got scolded at the Post Office...

WongKonPow said:
Up here I think you can also carry a sword cane as long as the blade inside is under 26" which I think is hilarious since autos are illegal.
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You can OWN the sword cane, but not carry it.
Not allowed to carry weapons, and that's what the sword cane gets put down as.
CAN own weapons, just not carry them.
That's why a 12 or 18 inch bladed knife is okay in the woods, since THERE it's a tool.
As long as you can explain it as a tool, you're good to go.:thumbup:
 
Guyon said:
I'm on it. You think the Siegle will be good enough to scare a soccer mom into a sprint?

JK8.jpg
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I could try this one...

P1060348.jpg
 
I've never had the issue you've had, carrying the same knife, nice taste. :D
Every time I enter a sheeple building, I put my knife in my pocket rather than clipped because I've gotten dirty stares before.
Interestingly though, more people freak out over my Od-1 in black than my g10 Tyrade in orange. People digg the orange and like the "TWHACK" it makes, but the black makes them nervous, in a knife half the size.
Maybe investing in a bright knife could alleviate your problems, it has helped me.
 
i'm pretty sure it's not allowed. in cali i you have to go through a metal detector but i'm pretty sure they'll hold it at the gate for you
 
rmc85 said:
This is the first time I've ever had anyone say something about me carrying a knife...

Tell me this...

Why would he not care if I have a knife, but just not want me to have it clipped on my pocket?

I'll just start leaving my knife in my truck from now on...
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Somebody else already hit on the right answer, about the sheeple (I think he said). Fact is, in a state like mine (NY), carrying is OK as long as it's concealed. The thinking is that you don't want to have (some) people get alarmed, as some will. So you have your 'Right' to carry a knife and they have their 'right' to the security of not feeling threatened by seeing you carry a knife in public, and everybody stays happy. The Marshall told you, you were cool with it. Go with that. You don't have to leave it in your truck... as long as you're not actually entering the courthouse proper. The other Marshall's didn't 'look away' because they're your friends... I mean, they did cut you slack by not making a big deal of seeing it clipped to your pocket, whereas the Marshall who confronted you was enforcing the letter of the law (apparently). It IS your Right to carry. Just carry concealed.

My $.02

Rob
 
Some States or locales have a Law or Ordinance that says you can carry a knife of a certain size concealed. that means no pocket clip showing. Then other places it's the complete opposite. You MUST have the clip showing. At a train station the Cops, Or actually they where national guard, told me the same thing. "Keep it in the pocket no clip showing and I'm good". Then when I get to my home destination it's considered a concealed weapon if the clip isn't showing.

It varies from city to city and state to state. You're just lucky they didn't Tazer you 25 times, then charge YOU with assault and resisting+concealed weapon in a federal building.
 
OH YEAH, Thats why it happened to me-

ROBME, I was In the NY Train station. I guess that's the Law in NY. Then I get to Philly and it's opposite?????
 
Sputnic, What are you saying? Are you agreeing? Disagreeing? ...and what do you what from me? - I was just trying to provide the OP, with a reasonable and logical answer to his query.
I think it's (more than) a good idea to be familiar with the carry laws of the geographic location you are, or will be, in.

And despite my saying that... Personally, I always carry concealed and I never draw attention to myself, and if I know I'll be going through metal detectors, I just don't carry.
 
A couple of weeks ago, I accompanied my wife to (municipal) traffic court for a summons she had received, and I couldn`t believe the nonsense security they put you through....in addition to going through a metal detector, everyone was required to empty their pockets, and 2 uniformed cops went through everybody`s personal effects with a fine-tooth comb....looking through wallets, opening *every* compartment and container in women`s purses, even tried to remove the battery from one guy`s Blackberry (!) until the guy started yelling at the cop....when I got up there, they looked at all my stuff, and began examining my keys like they were something from another planet....I have a vending machine key on my keyring (tubular design, around 3 inches long). After 2 or 3 minutes (I sh!t you not !) of whispering back and forth, the older cop turns to me and sez "You can`t bring this inside". I was stunned to disbelief...I said "Are you KIDDING me, it`s a *vending machine key* !" Again he repeated "You can`t bring this inside"....so I had to walk all the way out to my car & back just for that stupid key, and then wait on line and go through the entire scenario *all over again*!!! Unbelievable....
 
It may be that he was acting with discretion, and if he was, thank goodness for that. But really, could he tell it was a knife just from what was sticking out of your pocket? Is it possible it was a pocket tool of some sort?
 
Oops! LOL! I've been known to whip out a 4 1/2" custom titanium knife to open a package right there on the Post Office clerk's desk. :D
 
I am not a lawyer. What follows is my understanding of the US Code provisions regarding dangerous weapons. Do not rely on this to be a definitive explanation.


18 USC 930 states the following:

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(b) Whoever, with intent that a firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime, knowingly possesses or causes to be present such firearm or dangerous weapon in a Federal facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(c) A person who kills or attempts to kill any person in the course of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), or in the course of an attack on a Federal facility involving the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, shall be punished as provided in sections 1111, 1112, and 1113.

(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to -

(1) the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law;

(2) the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or

(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.

(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

(e)(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to conduct which is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d).

(f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.

(g) As used in this section:

(1) The term ''Federal facility'' means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.

(2) The term ''dangerous weapon'' means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2 1/2 inches in length.

(3) The term ''Federal court facility'' means the courtroom, judges' chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.

(h) Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.
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According to the red highlighted text, as long as it is legal for you (in the city and state where you live) to be carrying that knife, this law does not prohibit you from doing so in a federal building.

The green text shows you where he got that 2.5" thing. A pocket knife of that size is, by law, not a "dangerous weapon." But if you are legally carrying, it is a moot point.
 
moonwilson said:
I always drop my knife down into my pocket whenever I go into a post office- for this very reason. It is technically illegal to bring a knife in, but nobody seems to really care. A busybody cop or postal worker could really give you a hard time if they were bored and saw that you had a knife on you. Better safe than sorry.

That said, I have taken my knife out to cut open boxes while in line at the PO before, and nobody has ever batted an eye.
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Same here, have never had a problem. I guess it depends what kind of area the building is in, too.
 
Guyon said:
I normally don't say this to another man, but...

Them's some purty berries you got there.


:D
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Cutting through brush and trees while picking blackberry's was the maiden voyage for the BK-9.

And they blackberry's are sooooooooo good.
 
rbmcmjr said:
I am not a lawyer. What follows is my understanding of the US Code provisions regarding dangerous weapons. Do not rely on this to be a definitive explanation.


18 USC 930 states the following:



According to the red highlighted text, as long as it is legal for you (in the city and state where you live) to be carrying that knife, this law does not prohibit you from doing so in a federal building.

The green text shows you where he got that 2.5" thing. A pocket knife of that size is, by law, not a "dangerous weapon." But if you are legally carrying, it is a moot point.
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Interesting. We have no laws on the books that prohibit the carrying of a pocket knife in town. From my understand you have to keep it at 4 inches or under to be a "common pocket knife" rather than a weapon in Florida.
 
I routinely carry a 3-1/2" fixed blade into my post office, and nobody has given me any grief yet. Of course, they all know me, and there isn't a federal courthouse in the building either.

Sounds to me like the marshall was being a stand-up guy; he could have come down on you far worse.
 
rbmcmjr said:
According to the red highlighted text, as long as it is legal for you (in the city and state where you live) to be carrying that knife, this law does not prohibit you from doing so in a federal building.
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No, that's not quite right. The text you highlighted in red is to exempt people who are performing a lawful activity on federal property that requires the "weapon". Such as hunting on federal land or a worker who require such a tool to perform his job on federal property. It does not give you carte blanche to carry knives or guns into a federal building just because it is legal to carry whatever "weapon" you have in the state or municipality where the federal building is located. The federal law trumps state and local law on federal property.

I live in a state where CCW is legal and there are few restrictions on knives but I work in a federal building so I was very careful to check into the laws involved when I started this job.
 
Les said:
He really did you a favor, and was saying in his own way he did not want to be forced to address the issue with you in a formal manner.
Discretion. He used it. You benefited greatly!
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Agreed 100 percent.
 
mdauben said:
Technically, federal law prohibits you from bringing a knife longer than 2.5 inches onto federal property (which a post office is).
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39 USC 410 exempts Post Offices from 18 USC 930, which deals with Federal facilities in general.

So, I am not convinced that the general prohibition against deadly weapons in federal facilities is applicable to post offices. The original poster noted that he apparently entered a federal facility (though that is subject to debate), so I'm not talking about that.

I carry whatever I dang well please when I go to the post office. I just don't advertise it while I'm there. :)
 
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