When not to carry?

Kind of think of it, I always carry unless I'm going to get searched at that area (Court Houses, Government bulidings [expect Post offices I've never been searched there]). In Canada they can't just search you on the street (like in some other commonwealth countries) unless your placed under arrest. To be honest I've never gone to a school with a Metal Detector because I live in a small town, but I still avoid carrying when I ever find my self at a school.
 
Originally posted by laredo
I carry my knife to church. I do not think I will ever need it there but I usually go out to eat or shopping right after. Another place not to carry a knife is a school. I have two boys in elementary school and I have to make a real effort to remember not to bring a knife when I go for student teacher conferences and other events.
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Um, why??
Unless you're subject to being searched while at your kids' school, why do you not carry a knife there? Is it that you think it is morally wrong for a person who intends no harm to others to carry something -- a tool -- with which harm could be done, just because they made a rule? If the potential havoc that can be wrought with the tool is the reason to keep them away, there ought not to be baseball bats in the school's gym equipment.

If YOU know that YOU are not a threat to anyone, why is it wrong for you to carry at the school?
 
Originally posted by Andrew
I also don't feel right if I leave the house without a blade of some description.

Since carry here is completely illegal the only time I don't carry is in situations where I think I could get caught carrying.

airports, government buildings, places where there is a large police presence etc.
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Have you written to your legislators yet, demanding a repeal of the laws that forbid you to carry harmlessly since they obviously have not helped lower the crime rate?
 
Originally posted by kris
Thank you all for such great responses. The original intent behind my question was pretty well answered.

Last week I was a pallbearer in a friends funeral. As I passed my wife in the church, she noticed the pocket clip of my Spydie Harpy. Later, she asked if I ever leave my knife at home.

I am not a regualr church-goer, so I wasn't aware if wearing my knife there was the "right" thing to do. But, it looks like all of you have answered that for me.

Thanks again,
Kris
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Was your wife peeved that you had your knife?
Sometimes people at work notice me with a knife (usually a Delica or Mini-Griptilian) and kinda gawk at me. Then there are the times they NEED the use of my knife and they're happy I have it. :confused:

There is a logic that is obvious to those of us here and apparently a little too esoteric for non-knifies: It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. There is NO COMPELLING REASON for being without something that is unobtrusive and no trouble to have with you. A pocketknife is absolutely no trouble to have with you at all times -- and a neck knife is even *less* trouble. If my wife or anyone tried to suggest to me that I "should have left it home" while out at some event or location, I'd demand to know why that would be better. Is there EVER ANY kind of advantage to NOT having a tool with you -- an advantage you lose by HAVING it with you?
 
peacefuljeffrey

No, the wife wasn't mad or anything. She knows the way I feel about my knives and guns. It doesn't bother her at all. It was more of a curiosity then anything. She thought about it and later said that she doesn't think she has ever seen me out of the house without a blade, except on our wedding day. I had to laugh and tell her about the Mini Griptilian clipped to the vest pocket of my tux.

She is not into knives at all, but I have at least got her to carry a Victorinox of some kind with her at all times, and I know she uses it regularly.


Kris
 
Matthew Rapaport wrote:
Alas, after being out of work for 6 months I'm now back working (thank God), but that also means the end of daily FB carry for me which I sorely miss, though not enough to trade it for work!
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I feel your pain.
I returned to my day job two weeks ago after having been gone for seven months. I got so very used to having a fixed blade on me during my waking hours, it kinda sucks having to go thru the work day and not have my companion on my hip.

Knives in church:
I'm all for it. It's an opportunity to carry the gent's knives. No fixed blades though. It just doesn't seem appropriate to me.

All the best,
Mike U.
 
I think that the only reason to feel bad for having a knife or weapon in church would be if GOD confronted you about it and you failed to come up with a good reason.

You don't owe any human an explanation.

And God would surely accept the following reason:

"Well, Almighty God, You endowed humanity with the ability to make tools with which to make his earthly life better, safer and more comfortable. You gave us our intellect to separate us from the animals. You made us soft and squishy and unable to use claws or fangs to do the things we use knives to do. And since I harbor no ill-will toward any person and would never resort to violence except to defend the life you gave me from an attack by another, I hope You will feel, as I do, that there is nothing 'inappropriate,' 'shameful,' or 'immoral about carrying one of Your tools with me at any time when having such a tool might ever possibly benefit me or those around me."
 
You guys need to learn to be discreet. There's a difference between carrying and displaying. There is no need to use pocket clips when wearing a suit, at work, at church, or as a pallbearer.

Why open yourself up for undue attention and questions?
 
I've really enjoyed this thread. I normally carry three blades. Leatherman on my belt and folding pocket knife in each front pants pocket. I take the leatherman off for church, but keep the pocket knives. Several fellow worshipers have clip-ons, but I like the idea of sliding the knife into the pocket. Just last week I was at my grand daughters school and didn't even think of removing the knives. I wasn't questioned about it either.
 
RH, why should I, and anyone who carries a knife, exercise discretion to appease the narrow-mindedness of others? If someone looks at a knife and automatically thinks "WEAPON", then they should spend the rest of their life eating applesauce.

Besides, in my eyes at least, isn't that what the pocket clip is for? For discretion? It looks a whole lot better then a sheath knife on your belt. And, if someone should inquire as to what I have clipped to my pocket, the response is simple. "It is a tool that I use on a regular basis." No one needs to know more then that.

Kris
 
I never carry a fixed blade when I am rolling down the side of a hill with my kids. Aside from that, I always have a K.I.S.S. or a small SAK on every keychain.
 
People always freak out when I carry a knife, I sometimes even ridiculed. But as soon as they need to cut something they apologize and I find it quite funny.

I think the only reason I haven't moved to a Gun friendly place (or adleast Automatic knife friendly) is because I can't afford it.
 
kris, I have come to the point in my life that I don't need to make a "statement" in everything I do, say, or wear. I am not at all shy about my opinions, but neither do I wear my NRA hat to church functions. Can you see the distinction?

Sure, you have the freedom to display your clips if you'd like...but I don't feel "oppressed" if I just pocket the knife. With a suit or even an casual office environment, I think it's a distraction. I make a good living, and there are certain social norms that one must either be comfortable with, or understand the consequences of non-conformism in work life. I have the freedom to wear a ponytail, grow a ZZTop beard, and get my nose pierced too, but I don't consider it a good career move (not to mention bad fashion). I think certain types of clothing are applicable to working in a record store, and others are suited for white-collar work.

I think some people wear clips to shock - just waiting for the opportunity to defend their choice to "sheep". Reminds me of the punks (not an insult, a description) who go out of their way to wear green spiked hair, but get offended if you cast a lingering glance. Get over it. Either fit in or don't, but don't demand to fit in on your terms.
 
I agree with you. A large part of today's society is made up of people going for the "shock value" of things. However, the other side of the coin is the fact that in our world today, there are people who are looking to be shocked. I watch my wife get that lingering glance if we go out somewhere, and while she is going through her purse, someone happens to get a glance at a hypodermic needle. I never actually asked her, but I don't think she likes diabetes for its "shock value".

Granted, I am only 25, and still have a lot of growing up to do. But I do wake up each and every morning, put on a suit and tie, and head off to work. And each and every morning, I do clip my knife to my pocket. My co-workers know I carry a knife with me at all times, and they have borrowed it on many occasions. They have never cast disparaging looks at me because I have a knife. They know me, and they know that I can be trusted to use that knife in the proper fashion. At work I have my lighter, my pen, and my knife in my pocket at all times. To me, these are tools that I will use each day.

The problem today with carrying a knife is that people just it as "wrong" without making an effort to know the person who has the knife.

The middle ground is that people who carry either knives or guns make an effort to conceal them, and be as discreet as possible. The people who are against the ones who carry should make an effort to keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves. And, damn it, don't sue.

I just feel that as a gun and knife enthusiast, I am losing ground in today's society. And it breaks my heart that my beloved hobby may one day soon be held against me.

Kris

PS. Actually, when I was in high school, I had blue hair, not green.
 
Some people do go for the shock factor. Other people don't see the need to change their daily habits, or to hide their opinions and beleifs. Why should going to a church function call for hiding every little peice of your daily life? I carry knives everywhere everyday and don't think anything of it. If other people take notice thats fine, I'm not about to challenge them on thier beleifs unless they challenge mine. Carrying a knife with a clip isn't necessarily looking for confrontation.
 
Like I said, I am not shy. I keep a SAK in my daily planner, and one or two slipjoints on my desk. I just don't think showing a clip in my pocket is good form in the office. I liken it to wearing a biker chain wallet - just wouldn't do it.

When I am wearing jeans at church for midweek services or other functions, I wear a clip no problem, I just don't think it "goes" with dressier clothes on a Sunday morning.
 
Going to church ? I still carry, but with a little more discretion. If I am carry a pocket clip I usually unclip and slide the entire knife into my pocket. ( I attend an older congregation and those little blue haired church ladies would flip seeing the top of a Buck Tac Lite.)
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That's interesting because honestly at most churches that I have been at or in I'm generally a lot more worried about the 20-40 yr old reaction at my knives and forbid that I would ever own a gun;) I've personally found its the latest generations who aren't used to people with tools. As a side note it's these same people who couldn't help themselves in any situation where they had to actually work or do something i.e. change a tire, emergency situation etc... People who actually have to work I have found understand tools.

edited to add...
The only law that I have found concerning God and knives is "thou shalt not kill" It's pretty hard for me to belive Jesus didn't appreciate a good sharp knife being a carpenter's son:)
 
I'm a 'spirit of the law' rather than a 'letter of the law' type of guy. I will carry anywhere I can get away with it, forbidden or not. I'm not there to cause trouble, so there's no reason not to have my knife, which I consider an essential tool. If I am at high risk of being caught, I won't carry, but only then....
 
About knives in churches

Guys,

Saint Benedict, the father of all monks, allowed in his order to carry a knife all day and wherever on the belt.
And yes, he wrote about fixed blades - because slipjoints were known, but very seldom his times. But the knives of St. Benedicts sons and daughters were little kitchen knives with around one or two inch blade for eating and work.

Claus
 
is there a time when you feel you shouldn't be carrying?
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In an airplane and when I am playing around (rolling on the floor) with my 4 year old son. Other than that I most always carry a knife.

S.
 
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