So I was literally just robbed at about 9:45pm my time in front of a store that had a camera on and just got done talking to police about 45 minutes ago. I have a balisong knife that is 4.1" and I will be getting another knife, but what I need to know is if I can legally carry a knife on me and if so how much do I pay, what is the limit on the length of the blade, what blade is most preferred for self defense and if I can already carry a knife on me without a license if it is obviously visible on me. I wish I would have had my knife on me before the robbing and I wouldn't now be so pissed off and paranoid but I am going to need SOME sort of protection now or I won't feel safe around the area I currently live. Info on me is I am 17, almost 18. No criminal record. White (I think that helps). I just really would love to be able to carry a knife legally on me without going through any hassle or money being my family isn't exactly "rich." Any help is greatly appreciated!
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I need to know some Wisconsin Knife Laws fast please! Need help!
- Thread starter freeERIC
- Start date
If someone could please reply, I need to know! I don't want what happened to happen again or anything of the sort. It's not the point that the robbers got away, it's the point that I could have done something about it but didn't prepare myself and now I feel like I could have prevented what happened if I were to have a knife on me. Any answer that can help is great!
The relevant parts of the law are these:
The exceptions are if you are or were a cop, if you are in your own home or place of business, or if you have a concealed weapon license.
In the cast of the latter two exceptions, the weapon must be one of the following:
Putting it all together in plain English:
If you are not a cop, not on your own land, don't have a concealed weapon permit and you are carrying any kind of non-automatic knife concealed, it is a judgement call that must be made by that police officer, and if arrested, another judgement call that must be made by the judge and jury. Case law indicates it is the totality of the circumstances where the knife is found, what the apparent or expressed intent of the knife carry was, and the design of the knife being primarily intended as a weapon.
Given the worrisome uncertainly of legality, I would advise against carry of a knife for you as a minor living in Wisconsin. You don't have to listen to me, you can do as you please, but when you add in a few other factors too it really does not sound like a sound defense strategy. Here's some things to consider. Say you had a knife when you were being robbed. Here's the most likely outcomes according to crime statistics if you use the knife to defend yourself:
1. Robber is using a gun. You die.
2. Robber is using a knife. You both die.
3. Robber is unarmed and you stab them. They die, you go to jail for excessive force.
A knife only does two things reliably: scare and kill. If you are putting blade to flesh, plan to kill that person, and be darn sure you life is in immediate danger or you will be the one going to jail for murder. Pepper spray is a far better option, especially with how restrictive the law is on weapons.
Source - 941.23(2)
The exceptions are if you are or were a cop, if you are in your own home or place of business, or if you have a concealed weapon license.
In the cast of the latter two exceptions, the weapon must be one of the following:
Source: 175.60(1)(j)
Putting it all together in plain English:
If you are not a cop, not on your own land, don't have a concealed weapon permit and you are carrying any kind of non-automatic knife concealed, it is a judgement call that must be made by that police officer, and if arrested, another judgement call that must be made by the judge and jury. Case law indicates it is the totality of the circumstances where the knife is found, what the apparent or expressed intent of the knife carry was, and the design of the knife being primarily intended as a weapon.
Given the worrisome uncertainly of legality, I would advise against carry of a knife for you as a minor living in Wisconsin. You don't have to listen to me, you can do as you please, but when you add in a few other factors too it really does not sound like a sound defense strategy. Here's some things to consider. Say you had a knife when you were being robbed. Here's the most likely outcomes according to crime statistics if you use the knife to defend yourself:
1. Robber is using a gun. You die.
2. Robber is using a knife. You both die.
3. Robber is unarmed and you stab them. They die, you go to jail for excessive force.
A knife only does two things reliably: scare and kill. If you are putting blade to flesh, plan to kill that person, and be darn sure you life is in immediate danger or you will be the one going to jail for murder. Pepper spray is a far better option, especially with how restrictive the law is on weapons.
Don't forget to look up the meaning of "switchblade":
A balisong fits their definition because it opens "by gravity or by a thrust or movement".
Even with a concealed weapons license, a balisong, gravity knife, or auto knife is illegal. So, under WI law, with a concealed weapons license you can carry a gun, but not certain knives
Stupid yes, though certainly not unique to WI. Most states the license is called a "CHP" for concealed handgun permit and it has zero effect on anything other than said handgun.Even with a concealed weapons license, a balisong, gravity knife, or auto knife is illegal. So, under WI law, with a concealed weapons license you can carry a gun, but not certain knives
Also I was all set to go off a tirade about carrying a balisong (of all the knives one could pick) for self-defense but I figured the OP has had a rough enough night.
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