teens and florida knife laws???

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May 26, 2012
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i just turned 17 and have a kershaw leek, i am worried that i can get arrested for owning one so i am thinking of getting a kershaw scallion because i like the feel of the leeks speedsafe and design, so i thought a step down would be just as good. with this knife can i still get arrested and charged, even if i dont use it or anything, just carrying it around? will it improve or harm my chances of getting arrested if i use the pocket clip, making the knife visible, is this considered open carry? the knife is around 2 inches, so its not a big knife. i know all the things about keeping them well away from government buildings and schools, i am also not going to a place where there is children, i like to carry it whenever im driving, just incase i need to get out of the seatbelt if it stuck. can i carry this knife in public places such as to a mall, or in public in general? if the cop can see it, does that mean it is concealed or open, such as when it is clipped to the pocket. i remember somewhere it said the knife has to be smaller then 3 inches, but it didnt have an age limit. i also want to know if the speedsafe is legal. im not afraid that i will pull it out on someone, or someone will freak out because i have it, i am just worried that the cops will frisk me and find it on me, then arrest me. i dont have a job so i am not going to open boxes or anything, and am most likely not going to pull it out in public.
 
First thing I would do is just ask a LEO in your area. In my area, central PA, it is left to the discretion of the officer. For example, if he saw you had a knife on your person and deemed it to be a weapon, you could be in trouble. What is considered a "weapon" is a gray area. A boot knife dagger with an 8" blade might be called a weapon and a Leek or Scallion might be okay. I would just ask to be safe.
 
i know i posted pretty much the same question, but i didnt get a straight forward answer to my questions. i am now closer to 18 so i dont know if that changes anything, and one of my friends was arrested for carrying a 3.5 inch cheapo knife in walmart. he was frisked for no reason and was charged for having a weapon on him, i dont know the exact charges, but i want to avoid that as much as possible, that is why i am asking again. just getting more nervous about it then a few months ago, because i am trying hard to get to college to get into the army as an officer, but to do that i need almost a clean record. im trying to become an MP, so i also want to learn more about laws and stuff.
 
i know i posted pretty much the same question, but i didnt get a straight forward answer to my questions. i am now closer to 18 so i dont know if that changes anything, and one of my friends was arrested for carrying a 3.5 inch cheapo knife in walmart. he was frisked for no reason and was charged for having a weapon on him, i dont know the exact charges, but i want to avoid that as much as possible, that is why i am asking again. just getting more nervous about it then a few months ago, because i am trying hard to get to college to get into the army as an officer, but to do that i need almost a clean record. im trying to become an MP, so i also want to learn more about laws and stuff.
DO NOT ask an LEO! They are not lawyers. Do your parents have an attorney? You can only get legal advice from your own attorney. I believe Florida law allows for the concealed carry of a "common pocket knife" without a concealed weapons license and there was a case law that established that a 4" folder met the definition of common pocket knife IIRC. Whatever you do, maintain a low profile and keep the knife deep in your pocket. Your friend in WalMart was probably shoplifting or concealing merchandise; the call to the cops may have been from the store's loss prevention personnel.
 
Try a Google search for "florida knife laws", you might find the answers for yourself.

I've heard that FL knife laws can be vague and difficult to understand. So unless you can find the FL statutes online and decipher them for yourself, the only way you're going to get something resembling a reliable answer is to consult an attorney. You don't want to risk your freedom or future based on a total stranger giving their personal interpretation of Floridas knife laws here on the internet.

On occasion I will provide information on Californias knife laws tp people who ask, but our laws are rather simple and I can provide links to the CA penal code online so the person asking can read the law for themselves (which I always strongly advise).

And just as TOM1960 said, don't ask a cop. There's always a good chance that if you ask a cop if it's legal to carry a particular knife, or any knife, that they might say NO simply because THEY don't want you, or anyone, carrying a knife. Cops often have an unfavorable outlook towards people carrying knives.
 
i have searched multiple times on google for florida knife laws, and then i searched for orlandos knife laws, but still the only things i could come up with is that the blade can be 3 or 4 inches (everywhere i looked seemed to like these measurements.) and can or cannot be concealed. then it said you can open carry anything in the state of florida, as long as you are going to the corrisponding activities, such as hunting you may open carry a firearm or rifle. i cannot find though, is an age restriction. there is not a single thing about minors with knives. the statute about knives and weapons is also very hard to understand for me lol, but from what i get from it any ordinary pocket knife under 3 inches i can carry, but is a kershaw leek or scallion a common pocket knife? it has the speedsafe still, because i dont enjoy it as much without the tortion bar.
 
i have searched multiple times on google for florida knife laws, and then i searched for orlandos knife laws, but still the only things i could come up with is that the blade can be 3 or 4 inches (everywhere i looked seemed to like these measurements.) and can or cannot be concealed. then it said you can open carry anything in the state of florida, as long as you are going to the corrisponding activities, such as hunting you may open carry a firearm or rifle. i cannot find though, is an age restriction. there is not a single thing about minors with knives. the statute about knives and weapons is also very hard to understand for me lol, but from what i get from it any ordinary pocket knife under 3 inches i can carry, but is a kershaw leek or scallion a common pocket knife? it has the speedsafe still, because i dont enjoy it as much without the tortion bar.
Well, I had a few minutes to spare this morning, so I did some research for you. In the Supreme Court of Florida case No. SC01-297 (Bunkley v. State of Florida), the result was a case-law definition of a "common pocket knife". A folding knife with a blade of 4" or less fits this category, as long as it doesn't have any features that are common to combat knives, such as a crossguard. Best bet is to acquire a 4" or shorter Buck, CRKT, Kershaw, Gerber or Cold Steel folder and carry it deeply in your pocket, all the while keeping a low profile. You should be OK. I have carried a concealed 4" folder in Florida several times and never had a problem. Do not, under any circumstances, bring it onto school property or to any school-sponsored event. To avoid LEO harassment, do not carry it clipped to your pocket or in a case on your belt. Also, make sure that your carrying is OK with your parents, since as a minor they are legally responsible for your welfare. Use your head and good common sense. Remember, you are carrying an item that can easily cause serious injury or death. Choose a quality knife and carry it responsibly. :thumbup:
 
thank you for clarifying this a little better for me to understand. i will NEVER carry it to anything school related. the only reason i realy carry is when i drive somewhere. one of my fears is getting stuck in a car crash because of my seatbelt. i did have a kershaw tremor for a while, but then i realized the amount of trouble i could get in if i was caught with a semi large knife. so now im carrying a kershaw leek. but isnt carrying it deep in your pocket ( i already do that) concealed carry and against the law? well i dont know, these knife laws make anything seem illegal lol
 
but isnt carrying it deep in your pocket ( i already do that) concealed carry and against the law?
No, not at all. These laws are only about concealed, and what is allowed to be concealed (like a pocket knife. If you want to open carry, you could carry a sword for all the law cares.
 
No, not at all. These laws are only about concealed, and what is allowed to be concealed (like a pocket knife. If you want to open carry, you could carry a sword for all the law cares.
Glistam is correct. However, as a minor, you may encounter LEO harassment that an adult would not normally experience. Many LEOs believe that "civilians" (their favorite, but incorrect, term for non-LEOs), especially minors, have no business carrying knives. Also, your peers (especially young women) may ask you why you are carrying a knife and it may freak them out. You do not want to attract LEO attention or scare the sheeple, so it is best to carry your knife concealed at all times.
 
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