I live in Illinois, and if you carry a knife with a blade longer than 3" you are considered "armed and dangerous". What does this mean and what are the consequenses? It is listd in the Illinois criminal code, so it must have a punishment associated with the offence, but I don't see one listed. I am cofused as to what will happen if you have a knife with a blade longer that 3".
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What is "Armed and dangerous"?
- Thread starter Cooper
- Start date
I'm not a lawyer, but my reading of the Illinois code is that being "armed with a dangerous weapon" is not an offense unto itsself, but is just a component of certain other offenses. In other words, it's ok to be "armed" with a 3"+ knife, if you are doing nothing else wrong.
For instance, if you have a 3"+ knife and intend to use it unlawfully against another, you would likely be in violation of the following statute:
Illinois Criminal Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1. Unlawful Use of
Weapons. (a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use
of weapons when he knowingly... (2) Carries or possesses
with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, a
dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto,
broken bottle or other piece of glass... or any other
dangerous or deadly weapon of like character...
Of course, even a smaller knife would be judged to be a dangerous weapon if used in a manner dangerous to another's well being.
As another example, assaulting someone with your fists or robbing someone are crimes. Having a "dangerous weapon" on you at the time might escalate the charge to one of "armed violence" which likely has stiffer penalties.
Also, remember that Chicago has greater restrictions than state law. You can't conceal anything longer than 2.5" there.
For instance, if you have a 3"+ knife and intend to use it unlawfully against another, you would likely be in violation of the following statute:
Illinois Criminal Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1. Unlawful Use of
Weapons. (a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use
of weapons when he knowingly... (2) Carries or possesses
with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, a
dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto,
broken bottle or other piece of glass... or any other
dangerous or deadly weapon of like character...
Of course, even a smaller knife would be judged to be a dangerous weapon if used in a manner dangerous to another's well being.
As another example, assaulting someone with your fists or robbing someone are crimes. Having a "dangerous weapon" on you at the time might escalate the charge to one of "armed violence" which likely has stiffer penalties.
Also, remember that Chicago has greater restrictions than state law. You can't conceal anything longer than 2.5" there.
Judging by what Lurker posted above, it sounds like, as long as you don't use it in the commission of a crime or intend to use it in the commission of a crime, you're cool. My problem is with terms like "dangerous knife"; what does that mean? Isn't any knife dangerous? 