tomahawk in Virginia

T

Thorsmitersaw

Joined
Jan 13, 2007
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12
I am not really sure of the practicality of carryign a handaxe such as a tomahawk vs just carryign a large knife... but in either case I am interested to know if it is indeed legal to carry on ones person a tomahawk concealed or open in the great state of Virginia.
 
How are you going to conceal the 18" handle? In the woods, who cares. In the city.........?
 
In the open in Va. OK. Concealed is another matter. You can find Va. concealed weapon statute on line. Take note of the phrase" or similar or like weapon". This is a phrase that leaves much interpratation up to the law enforcement officer and the judge who tries the case.
How are you going to explain the need to have a hawk concealed to the Commonwealth Attorney( the prosacuter in Va.) and the judge and/or jury.
 
again it is not so much about the practicality so much as the principle. Hell, as interested as I am in learning to actually fight with a tomahawk I dont really think its all that practical which is the only thing keeping me from actually persueing that interest, as strong as it is.
 
A LOT of people go to jail for 'the principle' of a matter.
As with swords, have fun with the training, but don't expect the public at large to applaud the fact that you are carrying a weapon (with intent) or expect the laws to shift in your favor because like-minded people everywhere start carrying.
 
In Virginia, you may, as a matter of law, openly carry just about anything you're legally permitted to own, with remarkably few exceptions. That said, who knows how others will react? Thanks to VCDL, the legal open carry of handguns is widely known and fairly well-accepted, if still rarely seen, but I have no idea how people would react to the sight of someone strolling down Wilson Blvd in Arlington with a 'hawk attached to his belt. I would guess that, depending on the individual's appearance apart from the tomahawk, the effect would vary from very weird to frightening. But yes, it is legal - just don't conceal it. The Virginia concealed carry permit applies only to handguns.
 
Why can't Texas have laws like that?
I'd have to be wearing buckskins, a coon cap and leaning on the doorpost at the Alamo to get away with wearing a hawk in public! I can't (not SUPPOSED to ;) ) carry a Bowie knife under my truck seat much less on my belt.
That is so wrong it jus' ain't right....:eek:
 
Virginia's laws on carrying weapons are, for the time being, remarkably easy-going. I say for the time being because, with the growth, or should I say metastisization, of Northern Virginia, that seems likely to change in the long term. But for now, if everyone can see it, it's legal, pretty much everywhere.
 
Yes, it is lawful to carry a concealed tomahawk or hatchet in VA.

Anything remotely similar to a Bowie or dirk CANNOT lawfully be barried concealed, but may be carried openly.

I have seen kydex shoulder rigs for tomahawks, but they would likely "print" conspicuously under anything but a winter parka.

I have no idea why anyone would consider carrying a concealed tomahawk, unless they were prohibited from lawfully carrying a concealed firearm . . . or were harboring "ax murderer" type fantasies. Legal or not, a jury would beg the judge to lock up anyone who used an ax-like weapon for self defense.
 
In the absence of some case law specifically excluding axes from the ambit of 18.2-308, I would not chance concealing a tomahawk in VA. The phrase "any weapon of like kind" leaves a great deal of latitude for interpretation by the arresting officer and the Commonwealth's attorney. You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride, or the expense. Of course, if you know of some case law regarding axes/tomahawks, I'd be quite happy to see it.
 
Oh, perfectly legal to carry a concealed tomahawk. Tomahawk is not "of like kind" to ANY of the weapons specified in said statute . . . HOWEVER, only a deranged mall-ninja retard would be walking the streets with an axe under his coat. It would look REALLY BAD to anyone who happened to notice that you have AN AXE UNDER YOUR COAT:eek: Policeman may point a gun at you and ask, "Why have you got AN AXE UNDER YOUR COAT???" :eek: To which you may reply, "Ah, but officer, I did the research and found that it is perfectly legal for me to walk through a crowded shopping mall with AN AXE UNDER MY COAT :eek: Policeman may then decide whether it would be most prudent to: immediately arrest you or being a deranged mall-ninja retard; confiscate said axe for the public safety; or let you go along your merry way (unlikely -- especially if you admit to carrying an AXE UNDER YOUR COAT :eek: for "self defense" :jerkit:).

If you actually USE said AXE UNDER YOUR COAT :eek: for "self defense" by CHOPPING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING REPEATEDLY WITH AN AXE :barf:, frankly, it does not matter one bit if you were lawfully justified to utilize lethal force . . . you are going to prison for CHOPPING SOMEONE UP WITH AN AXE THAT YOU WERE CARRYING UNDER YOUR COAT!!!

Listen up, all the bad guys in Virginia are carrying large automatic handguns under their coats . . . and YOU brought along a light axe with a spike on the end. Even if you "win" you will likely be shot several times and sent to prison. Carrying a concealed battleaxe is just stoopid.

Arm yourself with a handgun, a knife, or even an illegal Bowie knife -- but certainly not an axe!
 
Don't bother walking around with "AN AXE UNDER YOUR COAT :eek:"
Questions of legality aside, you and I can agree on that. I hope the initial poster gets the point. Buy a Glock 19.
 
cypselus said:
In Virginia, you may, as a matter of law, openly carry just about anything you're legally permitted to own, with remarkably few exceptions. That said, who knows how others will react? Thanks to VCDL, the legal open carry of handguns is widely known and fairly well-accepted, if still rarely seen, but I have no idea how people would react to the sight of someone strolling down Wilson Blvd in Arlington with a 'hawk attached to his belt. I would guess that, depending on the individual's appearance apart from the tomahawk, the effect would vary from very weird to frightening. But yes, it is legal - just don't conceal it. The Virginia concealed carry permit applies only to handguns.
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are you positive that the concealed does not validate blades for concealed as well? It would seem rather silly to me for them to validate concealment of a gun and not a blade... but this IS the governemnt we are talking about...

I had thought the concealed permits the circumvention of that part of the law for non permit holders. I did not think it was projectile specific
 
cypselus said:
In the absence of some case law specifically excluding axes from the ambit of 18.2-308, I would not chance concealing a tomahawk in VA. The phrase "any weapon of like kind" leaves a great deal of latitude for interpretation by the arresting officer and the Commonwealth's attorney. You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride, or the expense. Of course, if you know of some case law regarding axes/tomahawks, I'd be quite happy to see it.
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my thoughts exactly. I hate loose wording liek this in law. It is an open door for progressives...
 
Positive? No. Only a judge can be positive. The rest of us have to guess based on what the law appears to say. With that out of the way, the permit law says "handgun," all three permits I've received say "Permit to carry a concealed handgun," and it was the carrying of handguns specifically that was discussed at the time the law was being deliberated and enacted. Furthermore, since there laws under which states such as Florida issued concealed weapons permits prior to the enactment of the Virginia law, and since Virginia's legislators were aware of these, it is reasonable to surmise that had they intended to permit the carrying of all types of weapons, they would have done so. But, again, it's up to a judge, ultimately.
 
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