- Joined
- Mar 24, 2012
- Messages
- 14
Hi everybody,
I just wanted to repost my response to the "knife rights vs Boston knife bigots." article. I think knife laws around the country is an important discussion to have. Also I don't want people to let other states mimic NYC. I also want to convey how taking away one right quickly spirals into a totalitarian like environment where these laws are enacted. Below are just some of the experiences I had in NYC:
I live in New York City and it's equitable to living in Japan during the Meji era where all but government officials could have protection. It can just as easily be compared to Nazi Germany in terms of how oppressive the NYPD is, they roam around like the gestapo. They lay in wait and use dirty tactics for which they are not held accountable. Living in such an expansive urban environment like NY you are bound to run into a "bad situation" at least once where a knife or some sort of deterrent would be useful/life saving. I myself have been in multiple situations like that. All I had to fall back on was my martial training which thankfully has saved my life. Having had a deterrent such as a knife would have upped my chances in these situations. I myself fall into the NYPD's profiling category where I am regularly harassed and hassled. Being in my early 20's and a minority. So i would never risk carrying a weapon on my persons. I've even had my blunted Martial arts training Kamas taken without cause on my way back from a training class. They were in my training bag not visible in the slightest other then a slight bulge. They used the dirtiest trick in the book to harass me, I was drinking a coffee on the train and it is illegal to have food or beverage on the train. Although I've never in 23 years of living here seen anybody observe that "rule", including cops. Two undercover cops approached me and proceeded to ask for my identification, and asked what I have in the bag and if I have any weapons on me. I only replied no to which after I asserted my right to remain silent (having established they were on a fishing trip.) They told me to open my bag and empty my pockets, I refused to open my bag or empty my pockets as I did not give them permission to search. They made it seem as if I was resisting them and had I not known the law I would have thought I had to follow their order to open my bag. I just kept replying I do not give you permission to search my bag. They proceeded to keep me against the wall and open my bag to which upon opening my bag saw the Kamas and went ape shit. Throwing me on the ground and pining me down. Luckily I'm sensible and followed their commands even though my instincts were to get this 250 pound officer off my back (had they had any reason I believe they would have caused me great bodily harm.) Anyway to make this long story a little shorter, they take me to the car to which their superior realizes the kamas were blunted. The two officers who clearly had no reason to arrest me and violate my rights came up with the story that I had the handles sticking out of my bag and was menacing. After a long ordeal I was told to "next time follow fucking orders, and you could avoid all this" written a summons for $50, for drinking coffee on the train and me filing a complaint against the officers. To sum it all up it was my word against there's and I guess a citizens word has no merit. Anyway I just wanted to share my experiences and am thankful I wasn't carrying an actual weapon. I am very thankful for people like "knife rights" standing up for our rights. I also am happy to see people paying attention to the issue. It absolutely sucks that as an honest citizen all I have to rely on are my skills and hands. While the criminal element is allowed to roam free with all sorts of weapons. I hope one day I can enact my constitutional rights here in the city. PS Blades (pocket knives, box cutters basically all knives), Nunchaku( My favorite training weapon to which they treat like a gun here in NYC), acrylic pens, dry ice, OOO and freaking Mixed Martial Arts are all very illegal here in NYC. Just thought I throw out all things banned that I have experience with here. DON'T LET THIS RIDICULOUSNESS HAPPEN TO YOU WHERE YOU LIVE. I hope Boston and the rest of the country does not end up like NYC!
I just wanted to repost my response to the "knife rights vs Boston knife bigots." article. I think knife laws around the country is an important discussion to have. Also I don't want people to let other states mimic NYC. I also want to convey how taking away one right quickly spirals into a totalitarian like environment where these laws are enacted. Below are just some of the experiences I had in NYC:
I live in New York City and it's equitable to living in Japan during the Meji era where all but government officials could have protection. It can just as easily be compared to Nazi Germany in terms of how oppressive the NYPD is, they roam around like the gestapo. They lay in wait and use dirty tactics for which they are not held accountable. Living in such an expansive urban environment like NY you are bound to run into a "bad situation" at least once where a knife or some sort of deterrent would be useful/life saving. I myself have been in multiple situations like that. All I had to fall back on was my martial training which thankfully has saved my life. Having had a deterrent such as a knife would have upped my chances in these situations. I myself fall into the NYPD's profiling category where I am regularly harassed and hassled. Being in my early 20's and a minority. So i would never risk carrying a weapon on my persons. I've even had my blunted Martial arts training Kamas taken without cause on my way back from a training class. They were in my training bag not visible in the slightest other then a slight bulge. They used the dirtiest trick in the book to harass me, I was drinking a coffee on the train and it is illegal to have food or beverage on the train. Although I've never in 23 years of living here seen anybody observe that "rule", including cops. Two undercover cops approached me and proceeded to ask for my identification, and asked what I have in the bag and if I have any weapons on me. I only replied no to which after I asserted my right to remain silent (having established they were on a fishing trip.) They told me to open my bag and empty my pockets, I refused to open my bag or empty my pockets as I did not give them permission to search. They made it seem as if I was resisting them and had I not known the law I would have thought I had to follow their order to open my bag. I just kept replying I do not give you permission to search my bag. They proceeded to keep me against the wall and open my bag to which upon opening my bag saw the Kamas and went ape shit. Throwing me on the ground and pining me down. Luckily I'm sensible and followed their commands even though my instincts were to get this 250 pound officer off my back (had they had any reason I believe they would have caused me great bodily harm.) Anyway to make this long story a little shorter, they take me to the car to which their superior realizes the kamas were blunted. The two officers who clearly had no reason to arrest me and violate my rights came up with the story that I had the handles sticking out of my bag and was menacing. After a long ordeal I was told to "next time follow fucking orders, and you could avoid all this" written a summons for $50, for drinking coffee on the train and me filing a complaint against the officers. To sum it all up it was my word against there's and I guess a citizens word has no merit. Anyway I just wanted to share my experiences and am thankful I wasn't carrying an actual weapon. I am very thankful for people like "knife rights" standing up for our rights. I also am happy to see people paying attention to the issue. It absolutely sucks that as an honest citizen all I have to rely on are my skills and hands. While the criminal element is allowed to roam free with all sorts of weapons. I hope one day I can enact my constitutional rights here in the city. PS Blades (pocket knives, box cutters basically all knives), Nunchaku( My favorite training weapon to which they treat like a gun here in NYC), acrylic pens, dry ice, OOO and freaking Mixed Martial Arts are all very illegal here in NYC. Just thought I throw out all things banned that I have experience with here. DON'T LET THIS RIDICULOUSNESS HAPPEN TO YOU WHERE YOU LIVE. I hope Boston and the rest of the country does not end up like NYC!
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