Post your best excuse!

The excuse should be "I do not consent to a search" and "Unless you are investigating a crime, this conversation is consensual, and a Terry Frisk for weapons is not permitted without consent, which I do not give. Am I free to go?"

Unless you're openly displaying your knife/gun/whatever there should be no reason for anyone, police included, to know that you're armed.

Most people have zero interaction with police. What circumstances do you envision where a police officer would magically know you're armed and then ask you why you are? For people that don't live a life of crime there is no way for this hypothetical scenario to occur, outside of someone volunteering the "I HAVE A KNIFE" information to the police officer.
 
nemesis said:
If you are carrying the knife legally no excuse is necessary. As a LEO officer myself and knife/gun enthusiast I have always thought "why do you need that?" Is an ignorant question. Either it's legal or not, doesn't matter why they carry it. I thank people for telling me they have a weapon or a tool that can be used as a weapon and that's the end of it.
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I think what the OP was trying to get at is there are some states where the law is not cut and dry. I live in such a state. The PA law is so vague that when you get done reading it you don't really know what just happened. Yes there are some things that are clearly illegal like switch blades and the like but in general the law is more about the situation than a specific knife length or type. I'll say it again here, in PA whether a knife is legal or not depends on the situation. Be a responsible adult that doesn't break the law and you will have zero problems.
 
Killtation said:
This has made me think about all my interactions with the Police.... Why do they mess with me so much? -.- I'm the most generic looking 20 year old white guy.
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The implication being what? That you shouldn't be suspicious since you're white? Ignorant.

OT; I had a LEO ask about my Ultratech recently (I was in my car at a gas station opening the packaging to a Leatherman Style). I hadn't noticed him standing with another guy (just a guy, or maybe a off duty LEO) a few feet away when I deployed the blade. Asked to see my knife, I handed it to him, he said it was cool, but illegal. I politely informed him that it has not been illegal anywhere in GA since 2012 thanks to preemption laws. Showed him a copy of the O.C.G.A I keep in my car where my autos usually are, had a cordial back forth explaining the lack of any restrictions outside of blade length, and was on my merry way. I'm not about excuses, I know my rights, and I will express that I know those rights in the most civil manner possible, every time.
 
Zeta33 said:
The implication being what? That you shouldn't be suspicious since you're white? Ignorant.

OT; I had a LEO ask about my Ultratech recently (I was in my car at a gas station opening the packaging to a Leatherman Style). I'm not about excuses, I know my rights, and I will express that I know those rights in the most civil manner possible, every time.
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The unfortunate reality is that there are so many laws that it is impossible for police to know them all and most fall prey to the same pass-around rumors about what is legal and illegal and are actually ignorant of the law they think they're enforcing.

That's where the phrase "You can beat the charge but you can't beat the ride" comes from. Erroneous arrest for something that isn't actually a crime is a very real problem. Ignorance of the law is no excuse... unless you're wearing a badge and are protected by "qualified immunity" and "good faith" doctrine/exemption.
 
Demon613 said:
The unfortunate reality is that there are so many laws that it is impossible for police to know them all and most fall prey to the same pass-around rumors about what is legal and illegal and are actually ignorant of the law they think they're enforcing.

That's where the phrase "You can beat the charge but you can't beat the ride" comes from. Erroneous arrest for something that isn't actually a crime is a very real problem. Ignorance of the law is no excuse... unless you're wearing a badge and are protected by "qualified immunity" and "good faith" doctrine/exemption.
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I agree whole-heartedly. The issue is very real. In my experience, at least within the state of Georgia, a good attitude, treating an officer with the same dignity and respect you expect for yourself, and knowledge go a long way. Southern folks are easy to please. Keep your "Sir's" and "Ma'am's" in order, and dont be a smart-ass, and you should be fine. If not, I can go to court. I don't want to, but I will.
 
I got pulled over once driving from work and the entire car got searched due to a knuckle headed coworker being stupid.

The officer asked if I had any guns, knives, etc. when searching me. I told him, "yes, a knife, but I'm legally allowed to carry it". He replied "ok, well I'll hold that for right now". He pulled my manix out of my pocket and says "oh, a spyderco, I have one too" and pulled out a camo paramilitary!

That was the last thing I expected to happen, but the cop was a totally cool guy! I was going to ask him if he had other high end knives, but the situation was too serious for more small talk.
 
Blues Bender said:
I got pulled over once driving from work and the entire car got searched due to a knuckle headed coworker being stupid.

The officer asked if I had and guns, knives, etc. when searching me. I told him, "yes, a knife, but I'm legally allowed to carry it". He replied "ok, well I'll hold that for right now". He pulled my manix out of my pocket and says "oh, a spyderco, I have one too" and pulled out a camo paramilitary!

That was the last thing I expected to happen, but the cop was a totally cool guy! I was going to ask him if he had other high end knives, but the situation was too serious for more small talk.
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How did the cop search your car? I'm going to assume that since you never mentioned arrest that you consented for your vehicle to be searched.
 
ridethepony14 said:
So lets say you were carrying a knife or two on your person in an uptight state like NJ...what would be your best excuse for carrying a knife if you were asked by a cop? Aside from the typical "Oh I use it for work, sir" excuse. Assuming the knife you're carrying isn't illegal...
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Response >Nice, isn't it. Let's see yours Officer?
 
I had a perfectly legal folding knife in my pocket when I got pulled over one time. The officer asked to see it and spent the next couple of minutes saying it was a weapon and trying to get me to admit it. I kept telling him it's the knife I carry at work, but he kept saying it didn't matter if I carried it at work it was still a weapon. He eventually let me go, with the knife. As others have said, it's best not to talk to police, they will try to get you to admit to whatever they think is right.

A friend of mine was pulled over and the officers asked him if he minded if they searched his trunk. He said, "of course not" meaning he didn't want them searching his trunk, but the way that question is worded, saying no is giving them permission. He would have been better off asking them why they needed to search his trunk, yes and no questions can easily be worded into trick questions. He had an automatic knife in the trunk. Autos are illegal to carry in CA, but not illegal to have in your house or the trunk of your car. The cop mistakenly booked him into the county jail because of it, but he was released and no charges were brought against him. Just because cops enforce the law doesn't mean they are always correct about it. Like I said, it's often more about what they "feel" rather than what they "know".
 
I use "Yeah, I've carried a pocket knife since I was a Cub Scout" with co-workers, but generally would not have to worry about an "excuse" with the police. I don't carry anything that Virginia doesn't allow.
 
You should't need an "excuse" with the police. Something is either illegal, or it's not. It's not up to the cop's subjective interpretation.

With "civilians", you should ask them why they have shoes on their feet. Don't they know shoes are made in sweatshops, by children??
And then point out how it's nicer if everybody minds their own damn business.
 
Dan's got it right. A good cop is trained to coerce you into giving up your rights of self incrimination and privacy. That's how they make arrests.

You know everyone who thinks they can verbally joust with a cop, makes the assumption they are the cop's equal or superior. They are wrong, cop are experts at it, it's their job, they are trained init and do it every day, all shift long. Keep your trap shut. There are all kinds of law enforcement in my family and I know I wouldn't joust with any of them.
 
"I'm sorry, but my parents taught me not to talk to strangers." And then walk away... You'd be surprised how well that works.

But in all seriousness, no excuses should be necessary. "Free men do not ask permission to bear arms" is the relevant quote from Thomas Jefferson. But in this case, it applies to tools -- a knife is a tool, just like the hammer and screwdriver in my trunk, both of which I could do more damage with than this little knife in my pocket.
 
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