Knives in federal buildings

Spudly94 said:
It gets to the point when people just need to deal with it , you don't need a knife on you 24/7 , you can go on and on about your rights and crap but really not a big deal if you need to leave it in a car for 5 minutes
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Rights aren't about need. They are about choice. Without choice, there is no right. I choose to carry a pocket knife.

As to the subject at hand --- I mailed a knife today from a post office near my work. Walked in with my little box of mailing supplies. At one of the counters I wrapped the knife in bubble wrap and taped it. Packed the knife in a small flat rate priority box with more bubble wrap. After addressing the box I taped the box with clear packing tape. Used my knife for all the cutting of bubble wrap and tape. When knife wasn't in hand, it sat open on the counter in front of me. No one, customers or postal employees, even batted an eyelash. Why should they? The public entrance to the Post Office wasn't posted either.
 
IIRC when I went to a SSA building last year I just checked my knife at the front desk. Post offices have never been an issue.
 
Spudly94 said:
It gets to the point when people just need to deal with it , you don't need a knife on you 24/7 , you can go on and on about your rights and crap but really not a big deal if you need to leave it in a car for 5 minutes
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Not to try to ruffle any feathers as the new guy, but who's to say when you may need it? From anything from opening a package to defending yourself.
 
Spudly94 said:
It gets to the point when people just need to deal with it , you don't need a knife on you 24/7 , you can go on and on about your rights and crap but really not a big deal if you need to leave it in a car for 5 minutes
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Who are you to tell anyone what they do or do not need? If it is legal they have every right to do it. This is the rhetoric used by the anti-gun people. "Who needs a high capacity clip?" "No one needs this type of gun". If it is not a big deal to you to concede your rights more power to you. You have no right or basis to tell others what they do or do not need. An attitude like yours is what fuels the fire for violations and infringements of others rights. Our rights are not crap, what the H is wrong with you?
 
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I've read that even Post Office parking lots are legally Federal property and that you can be prosecuted for bringing things like knives into a parking lot. Thus, the idea of leaving your knife in the car might not work if their guards were having a bad hair day.

Can anyone provide documentation that confirms or refutes this asssertion?
 
bf1122 said:
I've read that even Post Office parking lots are legally Federal property and that you can be prosecuted for bringing things like knives into a parking lot. Thus, the idea of leaving your knife in the car might not work if their guards were having a bad hair day.

Can anyone provide documentation that confirms or refutes this asssertion?
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Read any of the thread, grasshopper? Read federal code 39 CFR 232.1. for "post offices". They are covered differently than other "federal buildings" in 18 U.S.C. § 930.

- OS
 
bf1122 said:
I've read that even Post Office parking lots are legally Federal property and that you can be prosecuted for bringing things like knives into a parking lot. Thus, the idea of leaving your knife in the car might not work if their guards were having a bad hair day.

Can anyone provide documentation that confirms or refutes this asssertion?
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And I've read that Elvis is alive and working in a fast food joint in Portland.


Really, the only thing one should read regarding this subject is the USC and CFR.
 
Street Samurai1978 said:
Depends on the guard at the door and what mood he's in. They technically should just tell you to take the knife back to your car or at least confiscate it. In lieu of any of these events, I'd just leave it at home. A month ago, I took my son to the airport, and forgot about my leatherman squirt. The TSA agent just took it and told me to come see him after my son boarded his flight so he could give it back. He basically had the right to shove his fist so far up my ass, I'd know what a Muppet felt like, but he was cool about it.
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just leave it in your car/ truck. problem solved.
 
OhShoot said:
Read any of the thread, grasshopper? Read federal code 39 CFR 232.1. for "post offices". They are covered differently than other "federal buildings" in 18 U.S.C. § 930.

- OS
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Federal court rulings also count.

Here's a link to a recent news story about a Federal Court ruling re concealed carry of firearms in a USPS parking lot:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/11/us/guns-post-office/

AFAIK, this ruling only applies to this Colorado Federal Courts district. I don't know if it has any direct implications to knives or other "dangerous weapons".

FWIW, the fellow who manages my local post office is very sensitive re these issues. Based on talking to him one day, he had received some sort of explicit instructions that he must immediately call the cops if someone shows up with "dangerous weapons" or firearms. Since nobody is checking or guarding most local post offices or their parking lots, only open carry (or use of a knife to open a package) would likely cause problems.

It sounds like there is a lot of variability in enforcement and interpretation of the law around the country, in Post Offices, etc. Regardless, the last thing I want to have to hassle with is the cost of hiring a good lawyer, court hearings, etc, etc. I just don't have tens of thousands of dollars to fight such charges in federal court. If a person were convicted of such charges, it might even impact their ability to own firearms, concealed carry, etc, in some states.
 
if you leave your knife in the car or truck how are they going to know about it?? just keep you big mouth shut and nobody will know about it. I am sure they have better thing to do that random searching peoples car for pocket knifes.
 
Am I reading that right? Did a BF member actually just suggest that a person leave their knife at home if they don't have a vehicle to drive?

Say it ain't so. What's the world coming to?
 
Ok you bring your knife and get caught and go to prison. I like my freedom way too much. People like you will be the first one crying when you go to prison for being stupid. I rather just leave my knife. There is a lot of people that where thinking just like you in prison right now. I don’t want to join them. Do you??
 
richard thurman said:
Ok you bring your knife and get caught and go to prison. I like my freedom way too much. People like you will be the first one crying when you go to prison for being stupid. I rather just leave my knife. There is a lot of people that where thinking just like you in prison right now. I don’t want to join them. Do you??
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I use a knife in post offices quite often packaging things at the counters before standing in line to pay postage and have yet to go to prison for any reason. I too like my freedom way too much.

At airports I'm not worried about it either because if I have need to go beyond security screening, any knife is in checked baggage. At any courts (I obnly go to Commonwealth District courts) I just leave it in my car with my cellphone and other prohibited items.
 
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you see you are right but Charlie_K is the one saying something about it and that I have a problem with that . I have taken mine to the SSI office and the post office and never had a problem. now when I go to the court house or police station and the VA clinic I make sure that it says in the truck.
 
I've read and re-read this thread (yes on Christmas because I'm on lunch break at work) and basically the law is there but it's only enforced if you screw up. If you want to walk into a federal building and start disturbing the peace, guess what, people might call the police. If people call the police and we find a "weapon" on you then you are getting hooked up for being stupid in public, drawing attention to yourself, and having a "weapon" in a federal building.

Back in my Academy days we were taught that if we were ever summoned to federal court we were to leave any and all forms of "weapons" in the car, at home, somewhere else because even we could not carry weapons into a federal courthouse without express written consent of "I don't know the right people who could give consent" to carry.

If it's that worrisome I would call ahead and ask someone in charge of the location you are going to. Each location is based on person to person interactions and the history of occurrences at those locations. I've never seen any Post Offices south of San Antonio with a guard on duty so it's news to me to hear of such a thing. I also would never openly cut something with my EDC inside of a post office unless I wanted to draw attention to myself (which I don't). If I package something up I will gather the materials in advance and have the package ready when I walk inside so that there isn't any "temptation" for people to want whatever it is that I'm shipping off (such as knives from the exchange).

To me there's a difference between rights and privileges. Your right to carry out and about is built into the legal system, however once you step onto someone's private property that isn't your own you are subject to comply by their rules (same as federal areas - only it's the law). Obviously if you don't do anything noteworthy then nothing happens to you. Just like driving without a license. If I catch you driving like a maniac and then I find out you don't have a license to boot, guess what, your car is going to be impounded and it never would have happened if you would have been driving straight to begin with.
 
I visited the local IRS building a few weeks back. The security guard noticed my pocket clip as I was walking in. He asked to keep the knife until I left. Normally I'd be nervous about leaving a Sebenza with the guard, but he was very professional and there were cameras. As I came out he handed me my knife (he remembered which was mine btw) and I noticed a few other knives in the basket.

Overall a pleasant experience. I wish they were always so professional. There's really no reason to get weird about things if everyone is acting in a sane manner.
 
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