Washington DC knife question

bigbcustom

bigbcustom

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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I am going to be traveling to DC for some work next week, and I wondered if anybody could shed some light on what is legal there. I carry a SAK (tinker), and either a 551 grip (3.45" blade) or a Mini Manix (3-3/16"blade) as a minimum edc, and I was wondering if I would be legal there? I am planning on hitting a few museums while I am there, and I know I can't even have the sak in those, but other than that, just working around town. Thanks in advance.

Brian
 
The law regarding knives in the District of Columbia is DC ST § 22-4514b:

"No person shall within the District of Columbia possess, with intent to use unlawfully against another, an imitation pistol, or a dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or knife with a blade longer than 3 inches, or other dangerous weapon."

(http://government.westlaw.com/linkedslice/default.asp?SP=DCC-1000)

In theory, perhaps, that permits carrying such a blade without "intent to use [it] unlawfuly against another," but I am not an attorney and cannot verify that theory.

If you plan on entering Federal buildings the relevant law is 18 USC Sec. 930:

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both....

(g) As used in this section:...
(2) The term "dangerous weapon" means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2 1/2 inches in length."

(http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml)

Buildings such as the White House and the Capitol Building (and its associated facilities) have their own more restrictive rules about what can be brought in. No knives are allowed.

As far as museums are concerned, many, if not all, Smithsonian museums will allow knives. The Hirshhorn Museum, the National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum, the Renwick Gallery, and the National Zoo allow knives and do not have metal detectors. The Natural History Museum has metal detectors, but usually does not operate them and, when it does, still ordinarily allows <2.5" knives. I do not know what the Air and Space Museum currently allows (they have both allowed and not allowed knives in the past). The National Gallery of Art and the Spy Museum, not Smithsonian museums, both allow knives and lack metal detectors.
 
From the Smithsonian website:
- Do not bring any sharp items into the museums such as knives (including pocket or "Swiss Army"-style knives), screwdrivers, scissors, nail files, corkscrews, etc. Other items not permitted include firearms, pepper spray, and Mace.
-

At the Air and Space, Natural History, and American History Museums all visitors are required to walk through a metal detector. Those who are unable to go through the metal detector will be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel. Bag checks will be conducted via an x-ray machine at the Air and Space Museum. At all other museums, bags will be checked by hand.
Click to expand...

National Zoo's secuirity policy links to that of the Smithsonian.

The National Air and Space Museum is also off limits. Here is there prohibited list:
tripods
guns
knives
pen knives
pets
food/drinks
scissors
aerosol cans
tools
smoking
Click to expand...

The International Spy Museums Site does not mention.
http://www.spymuseum.org/plan/plan_insider_more_1.asp
 
Although the museums may officially prohibit knives, I reiterate that, as of late, they haven't even been operating their metal detectors. Perhaps metal detector use is tied to the terror alert level. However, on the one recent occasion I was asked to walk through a metal detector (it was at the Natural History Museum) I pulled my knife out of my pocket and presented it to the guard. She measured the blade (it was on a Spyderco Navigator II) with a ruler that she had handy, then allowed me to pass with the knife. If they have rulers on hand, it must be for a reason. The only logical reason for the security guards to have rulers at their checkpoints is to measure blade lengths. The only logical reason to measure blade lengths is to determine what is permissible and what isn't. And the only logical reason to determine what is permissible and what isn't is to allow the permissible knives in, while refusing to allow in the impermissible knives.

Okay, maybe these aren't the only logical reasons, but I still think that it would be okay to take a knife to the museums. If they pull out their prohibiting policy at the last minute, there are plenty of good hiding places outside the museum doors. :)
 
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