Knife and drug bust at my school

J

Jiantbrane2

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
489
EGADS! I can't beleive I didn't rush to write this earlier! I was about to go to bed and it hit me!

I am a freshman at UNCC (University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Apparently there was a small (but loud) party going on in an appartment at my school on October 6. A campus cop was strolling by and felt that the music was too loud (it was after midnight). When someone answered the door, the officer smelled weed and alcohol. For those of you who don't know, warrants aren't needed to search places in such situations, as the evidence may very well be gone by the time the search takes place. At least that's my understanding from... I don't know where I learned that. Anyway, they searched everyone. Some were under 21, and therefore illegally consuming alcohol. Of course, most people don't drink before the age of 21, right? :rollseyes: I'm not gonna talk about the weed or alcohol. They've served their purpose. One guy was found with "a gerber knife." no, Gerber was not capitalized (poor journalism), and the TYPE of knife wasn't specified (again, poor journalism), so I don't know what to think of it. One other guy "had a knife" (grrr. no more info. on that one either.). A third male "had three knives, which violates state laws of having weapons on educational property." I don't know if the aformentioned laws apply only to the one with multiple knives, but I doubt it. Since absolutely NO information was given about ANY of the knives, I can't say whether or not I would consider any to be weapons. Even in my opinion, both as a student who seeks liberty and a knife nut, three knives on one college student is PROBABLY more than necessary for "utility use." That's more than I have EVER carried on me when not camping. THIS is where the problem lies with knife laws; there really is a need for them in some cases.

UNCC is third in the nation for weapons arrests. I don't know what factors cause that: broad definition of a weapon (pocketknife?), overly aware campus police, carrying said "weapons" in a blatant, open manner, or perhaps there really is a large presence of weapons here. It isn't a very large school compared to some of the huge universities (Penn State is like... what... 40,000?).

I'll try to find out more about the knives in question.

I will ALSO resume carrying a knife on a regular basis (lost my Delica and sold my Endura) as soon as my Calypso Jr. arrives. If there is ever any trouble with that, I will stand 100% by my belief in carrying a knife as a tool and plead innocent to any charges of carrying a weapon.

Howie
 
If you run through a red light, an officer may pull you over and ticket you. If you're stereo is turned up beyond what noise ordinances allow, an officer may knock on your door and ticket you. If, in the course of that interaction, the officer becomes aware of some other crime going on (if, for example, there is a strong and distinctive odor in the air) then the officer can pursue that issue as well, enter the residence, etc. If you are engaged in a crime, if you are, for example, in a room where illegal drugs are being used even if you are not using them yourself, then an officer may search your person. And, if in the course of that search, he discovers an illegal knife, then what started as a noise ordinance ticket may turn into a felony arrest. No warrent necessary.

By the way, when you choose to live in subsidized housing provided by the state, you generally give up certain rights when you sign your lease. If you choose to lease a private appartment from a private landlord, you could probably keep all the knives and guns you want to in your residence. But, when you instead select student housing provided by the state and a reduced rent, your lease may prohibit such items.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
I'm a college student and I carry 3 knives on me all the time. No, they're not necessarrily all necessary for utility, but I'm not a criminal. What are the laws and rules regarding knives at your school?

On school property, the police can search anything, anytime, no warrant or probable cause necessary. They might need some kind of reason, but the requirements for what it is are way more lax than they are for probable cause. But when I lived in the dorms at my school, the police came by because they got a call that it smelled like we were "smoking dope in there," and when they asked to come in, and we said no, they went away, never to return, so I guess you do have some rights.

My college newspaper had reported once that a student was arrested for "felony possession of a knife on campus" though it didn't say what kind of knives are prohibited or what kind he had. I.e., school newspaper is not a reliable source for rules and laws. In my limited experience, campus police aren't either.

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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
 
IIRC, at Western Illinois University (A brief stop on my early 80's "Colleges of the Upper Midwest" Tour), to search a dorm room without permission, both campus security and a member of the dorm's official staff had to be present, just to document the entry, and basically cover everyone's butt that nothing had been planted. Other than that, they were free to enter.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
At University of Washington, if a resident advisor suspects either drug, or underage consumption of alcohol, they will enter the room with a police officer. The officer will usually write up and/or arrest the people breaking the law. I can understand their wanting to remove any "weapons" from people who are under in the unfluence of drugs or alcohol...it falls under protecting themselves and others.

I have been know to carry two, three and even once four knives. If for whatever reason a UWPD officer asked me why I needed so many knives on me, I probably wouldn't have a good answer.
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That's why I only carry at most two now a days.

The issue of campus security is very serious. That's why we are not allowed to own or posses firearms in campus owned housing, or carry firearms on campus. I can understand this. All the UWPD officers I have met are generally friendly.

~Mitch

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My Hobby Page
 
Beware of anyone who presumes to tell you what you need or don't need. This attitude destroys liberty. Those who presume to tell you just how many knives you need will eventually decide you don't need any.

Razor

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AKTI #A000845
And tomorrow when you wake up it will be worse.

 
"Those who presume to tell you just how many knives you need will eventually decide you don't need any."

During last night's debate, Algore once again reminded us he doesn't oppose guns for hunting or sporting purposes ... how generous of him ... when the Second
Amendment clearly authorizes arms for *security* purposes.
 
at my christian college we were more lax about blades and more strict about everthing else. in my floors picture, i havea cowoy hat, poncho, eyepatch, and a 9 inch bowie type knife i made from a hand saw blade ( cocked in throwing position), others of my floor were in stange attire as well, and if VG were there to mix and mingle with us, i believe he would feel right at home.

one thing we did have though was farm fresh apple cider, we pressed it in october and usually got around to drinknig it sometime in february, when it got thet certain piquant flavor and was able to give a fine buzz
 
Brian,
'Colleges of the Upper Midwest Tour' LOL
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
I was not questioning the officer's entry into the apartment, searching the room, or wanting to get any weapons out of the way. All of those are perfectly reasonable. I was A) reporting the incident and B) rasing the the question (for the bazillionth time
smile.gif
)of what is or is not a weapon. I have read the "Resident Student Handbook" and found only a very brief mention of knives. There are apparently rules about the proper disposal of "sharps" (basically anything that can cut or puncture flesh). The should not be thrown in the regular trash, as they are considered biohazards. The weapons rule is that... well... no weapons including knives. But I maintain my question of "What knives are weapons?" Sure, that may get me into trouble, but I'm gonna carry a knife, just like almost every other BFC member.

I also do not have a problem with people carrying multiple knives, even if I think it's too many. I was simply saying that a college student does not need three knives. Even if one is intended to be used as a weapon, you don't need three. I DO stand by that statement. The only purposes of the post were the two a mentioned above.

Howie
 
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