[MR] Knife and Sword transport laws

[Roy B. Scherer]

At 12:02 PM 6/9/2009 -0400, Mungo Napier wrote:
>So far my own research has turned up a mish-mash of laws. Swords are 
>generally not mentioned (except sword canes, but that isn't of 
>interest to us), but several sates specifically prohibit possession 
>of dirks and daggers, or at least carrying them (which could include 
>feast knives). Than there's the issue of concealment when you get 
>into a car (this I remember from my MP days).

         State laws regulating weaons, and regulating "concealed" 
weapons, are precisely that:
                 a mish-mash.
         There is no underlying logic to them.  What seems entirely 
reasonable to you, and is perfectly legal in your state, may be not 
only illegal but a FELONY in a different state.
         Let me restate that sentence.  You may be blissfully going 
to Pennsic, and be pulled over by a state/county/municiple police 
officer for any sort of a trivial offense . . . and then find 
yourself charged with a FELONY, facing over a year in the pen, and 
forever prohibited from voting, or owning a firearm or other 
weapon.  If that happens, you'll be extremely lucky to pay less than 
a thousand dollars for legal expenses -- and may well be found guilty anyway.
         This is a SERIOUS issue.  As the saying goes. "serious as a 
heart attack".
         If you think that any random state trooper or county mounty 
will apply common sense to the laws, and defer action because it's 
obvious that you mean no harm, then you are living in a fools' paradise.
         We really should research the laws in the states surrounding 
Pennsic, and publish the results on the list and on the various 
websites.  Note that any such publication will need to be updated 
several times a year, ab different states change their laws.
         I'm willing to do that for the Commonwealth of Virginia, but 
not for the other states (unless, of course, someone wishes to offer 
me large heaps of gold)..  We would also need, in addition to 
numerous researchers, someone to coordinate the whole project.
-- YIS,
-- Britton Morgan

end

		- - Roy B. Scherer
  [8 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221; (804) 355-7612]
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