I moved to a bad part of town here for college and am considering carrying a collapsible baton. Ialso regularly may carry around a 3" pocket knife for protection when walking around at night. However, I am concerned that the local police may pinch me for carrying a concealed weapon. Does carrying a baton or knife constitute a concealed weapon? Or rather, I should ask, what is the legality of carrying one of these objects?
2006-11-28 05:43:55 · 3 answers · asked by smartman300 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Short answer: no. They are not legal to own, much less carry.
From Illinois Criminal Code of 1921
(720 ILCS 5/24)
"Sec. 24‑1. Unlawful Use of Weapons.
(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when he knowingly:
(1) Sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses or carries any bludgeon, black‑jack, slung‑shot, sand‑club, sand‑bag, metal knuckles, throwing star, or any knife, commonly referred to as a switchblade knife, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or a ballistic knife, which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material or compressed gas; or
(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, stun gun or taser or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character..."
The knife is ok, but a blade of 3" or more qualifies it as a "dangerous weapon" by state definition. Offenses committed with "dangerous weapons" carry heavier sentences.
Stun guns and tasers are legal to own, but not legal to carry outside of your own property.
Pepper sprays are not prohibited, and are great defensive weapons, anyway. I recommend Freeze+P.
2006-11-28 06:38:15 · answer #1 · answered by marbledog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It took me over a month to get a conceiled weapons permit and I don't even carry. I would recommend a stun gun. one crack of that scares mostly anything, including most animals. just make sure you get a powerful one though like a 1,000,000 volt one I had the king cobra 900,000 volt one and it would crack like a son-of-a-gun
2006-11-28 05:58:18 · answer #2 · answered by srt927 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider a sheathed hunting knife worn on your belt.
If it is a life or death situation, carry a piece.
Also, a black powder pistol is NOT considered a weapon.
2006-11-28 05:46:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋