My recent conversation with three NYC LEOs and a retired LEO

C

charlesbjr

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Mar 8, 2006
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Last Saturday, I was in a NYC gun store where I have purchased most of my hunting rifles over the years. While filling out the paperwork for my new Browning, I struck up a conversation with three police officers who were also in the shop. Specifically, I asked them what they thought of the NYC laws regarding pocket knives and they began to laugh. When I asked them why they were laughing, they mentioned that they have been seeing some folks get arrested for posession of the knives that we see with the pocket clips and thumb studs. However, they thought it was rediculous because they felt that the noted knives were NOT gravity knives. After talking a bit more, they told me that they would never arrest someone for carrying this type of knife unless they were looking for trouble. At that time, the store owner who is a retired LEO told me that the local judge never prosecutes an individual for posession of this type of knife. In fact, with the people he knows in the courts, the cases are always thrown out, unless the person was arrested for assault, posession of drugs, etc.

The LEOs also told me not to even think about worrying if I was on my way to fishing, hunting, etc. They said the only time they would give me a hard time in this situation, is if I was carrying a double edge blade.

Don't know what all this means but it was interesting to hear their side.
 
Here in connecticut you arent really supposed to carry large fixed blades, but i do anyways when fishing or hunting. I've walked by EMT's and LEO's and none of them have said a word to me. Guess its how you carry yourself. People here also dont flinch at the sight of a switchblade as long as you are using it responsibly. It's all about how you use/carry a knife. Officers aren't a-holes too much as far as thats concerned. I mean if you were giving people the eye or playing with it out in public in a disturbing manner im sure they would do something but if you were found using it at work i dont think theyd do much, theyre human too and they arent stupid.
 
Here in connecticut you arent really supposed to carry large fixed blades, but i do anyways when fishing or hunting.
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The exemptions in Section 53-206 Connecticut General Statutes allow the carrying of a knife with a 4"+ EDGED blade while LEGALLY hunting, fishing or trapping provided that you are licensed (or in the case of saltwater anglers, legal). This exemption is fairly recent- but it is the law now.
 
Charles, glad to hear that you found a few sane NYC LEOs but remember two things, you found them in a gun store and they most likely are more favorable to weapons than the majority of NYC Officers. As to the comment of the store worker about a judge he knows, there is another example of a judge who is a freind of a former LEO who works in a gun store, and is therefore most likely a gun / knife friendly sort of person. There are presently 42,000 NYC officers. Most only own the guns issued to them by the department. About 20% leave their gun at work and don't carry any weapon off duty ( many here are females). The officers over the last seven years of academy classes have all been trained that a knife is a weapons arrest and is a good arrest to make......The last time I was in court ( about six months ago helping a friend out) there were three weapons cases I saw and all went ahead full steam in the system....
 
Tom, it is to bad that it has come to this. It was such a pleasure to speak to these folks and almost seemed as though I was not in NYC. They even went as far as to try and tell me that an airgun was not illegal to own in NYC as long as it is not used in NYC. For example, they insisted that you can own one in the city as long as you only transport it up-state to use. I found that hard to believe because I thought airguns were illegal in NYC. Anyway, they proceeded to take out their pocket knives to show me! It was real good to know that there are some people out there that don't think we are nuts!
 
Charles, this is the NYC Admin Code on air guns....b. Air pistols and air rifles; selling or possessing. 1. It shall be
unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell or have in such person's
possession any air pistol or air rifle or similar instrument in which
the propelling force is a spring or air, except that the sale of such
instruments if accompanied by delivery to a point without the city, and
possession for such purpose, shall not be unlawful if such person shall
have secured an annual license from the police commissioner of the city
authorizing such sale and possession. The sale and delivery of such
instruments within the city from one licensee to another licensee, and


the use of such instruments in connection with an amusement licensed by
the department of consumer affairs or at rifle or pistol ranges duly
authorized by law shall not be considered a violation of this
subdivision.

There is no "air gun license" and a rifle/shotgun permit doesn"t allow for it. Years ago my friend owned a gun store called On Target Sporting Goods in New Hyde Park LI. If you listened to the officers that hung out there you would think there were never any weapons arrest and all was ok to carry if it was sold there. When someone came back to the store saying he was arrested for carrying that weapon the only comment was that officer was a bad guy.....
 
Tom, that is the exact piece that I quoted to the LEOs, but they told me that it was illegal to have when it is carried with intent. As such, they said that it was ok if it is locked in your trunk.

Anyway, I will stick to shooting soda cans with my sling-shot (absent the wrist brace of course).
 
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