Is this a good definition?

[James Mattis]

From the "Weapon vs. Tool" thread, quoted from the Utah penal code:

"Dangerous weapon" means any item that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. The following factors shall be used in determining whether a knife, or any other item, object, or thing not commonly known
as a dangerous weapon is a dangerous weapon:
(i) the character of the instrument, object, or thing;
(ii) the character of the wound produced, if any;
(iii) the manner in which the instrument, object, or thing was used; and
(iv) the other lawful purposes for which the instrument, object, or thing may be used.

I don't know what it is that Utah permits or prohibits, concerning "dangerous weapons," but for purposes of laws concerning "concealed carry" or "possession inside high security zones," or "sale to minors," or "possession while doing something criminally stupid," could that definition, which directs everyone concerned to use their common sense, replace references to "dirk or dagger" or "switchblade" or arbitrary blade length rules?


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001

 

[alansattik]

Thanks James.
I searched for about 5 hrs yesterday at the UT web site and found no reference to dirks or daggers, when I did a search for "blade" it produced ---o--- answers. that leads me to
believe that most Utahans are comfortable with the knife issues. There are many laws
covering- "carrying concealed dangerous weapons" i.e.: Schools, Airports, Olympic
venues, state hospitals, correction facilities and so on. the concentration of the laws are on mostly guns.
Any person 18 years and older are able to purchase any weapon except "handguns" am I
to understand that includes knives? I can't say that I would like to be the first to test this code by selling a knife to a minor but it would be interesting to find something on that lines.
The state does recognize out of state concealed weapons permits and licenses.
I guess that my next search will be in a law Library.

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The most dangerous knife is a dull one,
www.alansattik.twoffice.com

 

[cerulean]

Yeah... I think that's a great definition! I would love to have it replace the blade length rules in my state. I'd even say it's a piece of model legislation that AKTI should strive for.

 

[medusaoblongata]

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with "(i) the character of the instrument, object, or thing." Does this mean the type of thing, or does it mean that an AFCK, by default of its name, is a "dangerous weapon." I don't know if "character" means any scary looking knife, or if it refers to weapon-only items (like asp batons) and not to weapon-or-tool items, like axes.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra