Tip: Never ask a cop...

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I was quite surprised at the responses from the "LEOs" to a perfectly valid question. Since I live in Mass, I will share some of my experiences with LEO's.

First off, I am 20 right now, and for the last 5 years I have always carried a folder clipped to my pocket and a leatherman multitoon on my belt everywhere except airports. Yes this includes 3 years of high school and 2 years of college so far. I am in no way saying that anyone should carry knives in high school, but in my situation it posed no problem.

I know the chief of police in the town next to mine quite well and asked him about knife laws reciently and he told me that MA does not have a length limit on anything but switchblades (1.5 in) and no, there is no limit on the number of knives you carry. What is prohibited is double edged blades, switchblades over 1.5in, and anything that is designed to be used as a weapon as well as ninja weapons).

What I have not asked the chief, although through interpretation of MA laws I have determined that balisong knives are also legal as long as they are not double edged.

I asked an officer on my college campus what the school's policy on knives was and he said that they went by MA law.

I have taken to carrying a copy of MA's knife laws with me to end the arguements over the 4 finger rule, and the like. It also might come in handy if I was being questioned about my knives by a LEO.
 
eojk said:
I'm very surprised at the mountain of negative vitriol spewed at you.... wait, no I'm not. It is responses like these that cause me to be distrustful of police officers, much like it is the rowdy "gangbanger" wanna be teenagers that make them wary of teenagers like you, NeedleRemorse.
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For me, it is the constant reports in the newspaper of police officers acting no differently from any other criminals that make me distrustful of police officers.

Like the other week, when the corrections officer in Tallahassee shot and killed a fed during his arrest at a prison, following an investigation that indicted 6 guards for operating a sex-for-contraband ring at their prison.

Or the TWENTY Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies who were just reprimanded for cheating and answer-sharing on tests that gave them promotions and increased their pay! (17 were corrections, 3 were patrol officers).

Or the PBSO deputy who was just busted at a late-night backyard party where deputies got called to a noise complaint, and he got belligerent with them, profane, and is supposed to have pointed his GUN at them!

Or the numerous other times I've read about cops MURDERING people, both near here and far away. I remember a multiple killing by a police chief in New Jersey a few years ago. How about the case right here in S. Florida where the cop made up a big fat fake story about how he was assaulted by some guy who took his badge from him when he presented it? Turned out, the cop had solicited this male prostitute, then demanded his money back when the guy wouldn't finish him off! That led to the scuffle in which shots were fired.

Look, I'm no cop-basher. But the public has a right to expect that those who are selected/hired to serve are ABOVE REPROACH in their values, morals, and behavior. And lately we see that this is woefully not the case.

-Jeffrey
 
Jeffrey,

According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) there are 663,535 Police Officers in the United States (Local, Sherrifs, and State). There are always going to be scum that sneak into any profession. You cited a handful of examples of people who should not even be Police Officers. Six bad cops (corrections aren't cops) out of 663,535 isn't too bad. That's one bad cop for every 110,589 good Officers (Yes, I realize that there must be more than six bad ones, but that's all he cited). Don't let a few bad apples spoil the barrel for you. At least we usually try to shit can them asap.
 
Did you notice how many of them thought that intent had something to do with the law?

like so "Yes I do ask people carrying multiple weapons on their person to explain themselves".

Since when was a sak a weapon anyway?

I didnt see anything in that post that had weapons laws, that dealt with intent. Sometimes I think the way the law enforcement system is setup isnt the best way. I have no idea what would be the best way. But, I see way too much of those kinds of cops everywhere.
 
Since we are talking about bad cops. What would happen if you told a cop that I hope someone shoots you. Back in the day a long time ago like 50 years, my Grandfather got pulled over and the cop told him to go back to where he came from. He was born in America the racist cop thought he was from Mexico. And my Grandfather told him “I hope some one shoots you, you SOB” Then he drove away my Grandfather is the nicest guy in the whole world. The cop just pissed him off, ive never seen him get pissed off.
 
If i was a LEO in that area I'd find those two guys (posting as LEOs) and cut their balls off. They are too dumb to walk the face of the earth.
 
I would just like to say that you write really well, and much better than many 'adults'. You also give a reasoned debate in an air of hostility. I liked 'Tex Dep's reply when he said

Based on his writing he's smarter than that.
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and

Read the kid's posts, This is not the hang on the street corner type. Again take the trouble to read, the kid clearly explained he knew what the wrong actions on his part could get him.
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Well done.
 
Great Jumpin Jehosophat... I though the redneck cops of Georgia and the head-busters of NJ were pretty bad, but those MA guys ain't far behind.

You, though, never lost your cool, and other than that one retired MA cop TexDep, stand out like sore thumbs as the only rational voices on the thread. My hat is off to you.

I just posted a few words of thanks to TexDep, as well as a few in your defense. You have my most sincere condolences for having to live in that God- (and Constitution-)forsaken state.
 
Those were among the stupidest responses I've ever had the displeasure to read. Seems to me the guys posting over there, with the exception of TexDep, could ALL use another psych evaluation.
 
the fact is that most cops are cowards. that's why they freak when they see the plastic butter knife in the back seat of your car. Or (as that one jack booted thug stated) "DOUBLE-TAP" a kid with a squirt gun. These are people who handcuff first graders, and taser old ladys. They're not peace officers, they are agents of a corupt state. It is their job to INFORCE the unconstitutional laws that are passed on a daily basis. They DO NOT have the right to demand that you have a reason for carrying 2 knifes, nor do they have the right to consider you a threat, just because you carry a knife.

these people are brainwashed and indoctrinated with the propganda of the state. That everyone is a threat until they are proven otherwise. And that the most important thing is not keeping our streets safe, but keeping each other safe. that's why childred bleed to death at columbine, while armed and armored officers wait THREE hours (until the shooting stopped and it was safe to go in) to enter the school. They are cowards who harrass you, because you're not a threat. Needle, your best bet is to stick to blade forums, and leave those people alone. you're not one of "Their own".

now there may be some officers on this forum reading this thread that don't like my remarks, , just prove me wrong, and i'll take it back.
 
Well, I don't think that "most" cops are cowards, bullies, crooked, etc.. Like it was stated earlier, their are scumbags in every profession. This thread got me thinking about a few things, and I am kind of embarrassed to admit what they are, but here it goes. What do I fear most in my life right now? My government in general, and the irs in particular. (don't get me wrong, I think we have one of the greatest governmental systems on earth...doesn't mean it's not scarey though) Before I go on with my next remark, let me preface it by saying that I am a middle aged male with no criminal record, not even a traffic ticket in 20 years, who dresses and acts appropriately in nearly every situation. What scares me more, walking down a street late at night and seeing a strange guy coming my way, or seeing flashing lights in my rear view mirror? Flashing lights. I haven't been arrested, or ticketed, but I have been pulled over probably six times in the last twenty years, and two of the six have scared the piss out of me. At night with a strange guy coming my way, I have some control over the situation, and, if acted against, I can respond to defend myself or run. When an officer pulls you over, you are totally at his mercy, you have no control, and if acted against in a non lawful manner, it is you who will go to jail if you respond to defend yourself or run (verbally or physically). In the stops where I became worried, both were simple traffic stops for minor incidents that weren't even worth a ticket (one was a dirty liscense plate of all things), both times the officers wanted to search my vehicle, and became confrontational when I told them no, once the officer told me that he had probable cause to search my vehicle, and had his partner stand with me in front of the squad car while he did so. He didn't find anything (of course) and gave me the "you're lucky we didn't find anything or you would be on your way to jail"...what a load of crap...I didn't even get a ticket and I get that kind of attitude/treatment? Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I worry about things like what you see on tv where an officer gets angry with you and plants something in your car. What do you do then??? You go to jail is what you do? why? because the officer felt like making you go. Again, I know that most police officers are great folks, but when you get a bad one, it's really bad. They hold your life, freedom, and happiness in their hands....it's scarey to think about sometimes.
 
Does anyone know the requirements for becoming a cop in Massachusetts? I'm thinking about education, psych evaluations and background checks. I don't know what is required at this point, but it seems to me that a person who will be given the power that a cop has should go through all of them.
 
Now the B.S. here from the anti-cop crowd is getting almost as deep as the crap on the offending forum. It's time to loosen up your tin foil hats and take your meds.
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I'll say it again, since many have seemed to missed it; it's unlikely that those fools on the Masscops website are even Police Officers. How many 22 year old Deputy Chiefs do you know? It sounds like a bunch of Police wanna-bes ganging up on a 17 year old who asked a legitimate question.
 
Looking at the site, it looks like the labels "deputy chief", "cadet", etc. might just be system-assigned based on post count or some such nonesense. It looks like all registered users get some sort of fake cop rank. I didn't see anybody listed as "citizen", "district attorney", etc.
 
Chris Meyer said:
Now the B.S. here from the anti-cop crowd is getting almost as deep as the crap on the offending forum. It's time to loosen up your tin foil hats and take your meds.
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I'll say it again, since many have seemed to missed it; it's unlikely that those fools on the Masscops website are even Police Officers. How many 22 year old Deputy Chiefs do you know? It sounds like a bunch of Police wanna-bes ganging up on a 17 year old who asked a legitimate question.
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I think this is a more accurate picture
crazyfool.jpg


Not all cops are bad, and I am just as annoyed by idiotic rants about jack booted thugs and cowards as the moronic "double tap" comments by the Mall ninjas on that other site.

All Fools.
 
Apparently, there are a lot of officers out there who let their own feelings on knives (with regard to their safety) get in the way of what is really legal.
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Totally true. But again, everyone has "their own feelings" on knives. Police are people too, with feelings. They are called to make judgement calls on a variety of situations. I know...some folks believe Police should be robots who enforce the law. Then again, people constantly complain about the Police not caring. People can't have it both ways.

I would assume that you are the type of person that a police officer would not have to "stop and frisk" or "search incident to arrest." I'm also guessing you don't have a criminal record. The greatest danger for most who carry knives would be to do something stupid that would get you stopped in the first place. (IE: fighting, drunk in public, thieving, carrying into a courthouse, etc...)

I think that most of the time, you would be fine (other than you being underage) carrying both knives you mentioned. The statements they made about, "finding reasons to lock you up" are just bravado. Probably because your a young guy. It's also because many people cops deal with are criminals who are carrying knives, not folks such as yourself.
 
At least one of those folks who responded admitted to not being an LEO.
MassCops Deputy Chief seems to be a site title, possibly related to number of posts or time on board.

It is (unfortunately) all to comon for people to play cop on the internet. I recall on a firearms website, and individual played ATF agent for a few days. After he got several people asking for letters of legality (on letterhead), he admitted it was a joke gone bad.

Interestingly, people who nobody would ever believe could become LEO's can now. A couple months ago on "Your World With Neil Cavuto" (a show on Fox News Channel), Cavuto interviewed somebody from the NYPD who described that they are not rejecting former gang members, people with a multitude of misdomeanor convictions, and former drug users.
 
There was one response on the thread that sounds like a pretty good answer to your question. I suspect it is probably the most common attitude that one would find among responsible LEOs. It was near the end and easy to miss among all the flammage:

dfc2502 said:
Ibach
First off, they are both legal to carry. Secondly, as a PO I would never know you were carrying them unless I had a reason to stop you. The presence of two weapons in your pocket, although legal could sway me in the use of discretion regarding the reason for stopping you in the first place. Mind you the presence of the edged weapons will not be the only factor in the use of discretion, but rather add to the totality of the incident. Remember, I would not be dealing with you or know of the weapons unless there was a problem in the first place.
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Recently, I gave a friend of mine my SOG Flash II. He loved playing with it, and afterwards, we stopped by his local diner to have breakfast before going to see a mutual friend of ours up in the mountains. At the diner, a couple city cops were hanging out, and to my surprise, he showed them the Flash II. They really liked it, thought it was neat, asked where he got it from. My heart sank. I had my Strider PT on me, in addition to both of my Ritter Grips in my jacket pockets. My heart sank. My favorite folders were in jeopardy! My fears were quelled when one of the officers pulled out a Benchmade Grip, and proceeded to tell me about the 154CM blade. I guess it just depends on who you're talking to. BTW, the cops didn't think for a minute that my buddys knife was an automatic.

They were quite liberal with the tales they were telling my buddy and I too, so that might have contributed to their overall jovialness. Most LEO's I know are a little nuts, but are all good guys IMHO.
 
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