Weapons

[EricTheBald]

Here's a question...

I worked for Xerox for a while and in the course of my job I found myself opening a LOT of carboard boxes all day long.
(New circuit boards and other sorts of parts.)

I would carry a small switchblade in one of those nylon pouches on my belt because it was very convenient to be able to grab the knife, open it, use it and put it away, all with one hand.

Now, by small, I mean the blade is 1.75" long, a bit less than 1" at the base, with a fairly triangular shape. Half the blade is knife edge and half serrated.

I would carry this thing all over the place even though I knew it was technically illegal because I always figured that it was so obviously a TOOL instead of a weapon that nobody would care.

I even carried it into police stations on service calls and pulled it out to open boxes in plain sight of the officers and detectives who never batted an eye.

I realize that being a middle aged white guy does help of course.

But here's the question:

If you pulled me over and decided for whatever reason to search my car, and assuming that I had no wants/warrents or other contraband, but you found this Bic lighter sized switchblade in my glove compartment, what would you're likely reaction be?

[gdowkpc]

If you are asking for mine personally, I use discretion quite regularly. If you are a decent guy, then this would be a non-issue. I would probably inform you that it was illegal and then watch your reaction. If you continued to be respectful, I would tell you that it is a non-issue and that I would do nothing about it, especially when you told me why you have it (a reasonable use).

Having said that, I would also give you the standard disclaimer. Although I would do nothing about it, you never know what the next officer will do, or the more zealous officer in the neighboring smaller jurisdictions. I would simply eduacate you on the law (which few people would probably be aware of anyways) possibly explain why I think it exists, and make a recommendation as to what course of action you should take (ie, discarding it and going with a thumb actuated box cutter).

When would I more likely arrest? It would vary on the cir***stances, but I would imagine that it would be in conjunction with some other committed felonies and a bad attitude.

[Zantar]

I tried to find in the Oregon Revised Statutes a definition for "concealed" but was not able to find one. Perhaps it's in a section I didn't think to look in. Anyway, I have a knife I'd like to carry on my belt and it came with a black nylon sheath. The sheath covers the whole thing and there's no real way to know for certain there is a knife in it, though I bet a cop would probably assume that was what it was. Could a cop decide this counts as concealed? By putting it on my belt there is not intent to conceal it. Sorry if I seem paranoid, I just don't want to get on the wrong side of any cops.