Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Not an issue. Schools: Illinois schools are considered weapon free zones. It is a crime to possess a knife on school property. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Chicago Restricted Knives: Switchblade knife, ballistic knife The Illinois body of law regarding the possession and carry of knives is confusing due to a dubious 720 ILCS 5/21-6, Unauthorized Possession or Storage of Weapons which overlays 720 ILCS 5/21-6, Unlawful use of Weapon (UUW)statute. 720 ILCS 5/24-1, the UUW law provides that switchblade knives and ballistic knives are forbidden. Possession of a valid Firearms Owners Identification Act […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes, effective February 2016. Concealed Carry: Not a problem. Minors: Possession of dangerous weapons, or transfer of the same to a minor, is prohibited. Schools: Possession of dangerous weapons, other than firearms, on school premises is prohibited. Critical Dimensions: None noted Restricted Knives: There are no restricted or prohibited knives. Wisconsin law does not generally restrict the possession and carry of knives either openly or concealed. While there is a statute that prohibits the concealed carry of any dangerous weapon: (941.23), knives are specifically excluded from that prohibition. The statute captioned Carrying a Concealed Knife […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Fixed blade knives may not be carried concealed or carried in a vehicle, subject to a few very limited exceptions. Schools: Schools are weapons free zones in Michigan. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Detroit and Lansing Restricted Knives: There are no forbidden or prohibited knives under Michigan state law. Knives are not mentioned in 750.224 which pertains to weapons that cannot be manufactured, sold, or possessed. Pocketknives are not restricted under Michigan state law. The prohibition on automatic knives was removed in October 2017. Fixed blade knives may be carried openly. Double-edged, fixed […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: There are no limitations on concealed carry. Schools: Knives may not be possessed on school property. Critical Dimensions: None. Restricted Knives: It is unlawful to manufacture, possess, display, offer, sell, lend, give away, or purchase Ballistic knives and “Chinese throwing stars”. The State of Indiana forbids the possession of ballistic knives and “Chinese throwing stars.” The possession and carry of knives is otherwise unrestricted with the exception of school grounds. Relevant Statutes: 35-47-5-2 Knife with blade that opens automatically or may be propelled 35-47-5-2.5 Possession of knife on school property; violations; exceptions 35-47-5-12 Chinese throwing […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Ohio law provides that one may not carry in a concealed manner a “deadly weapon,” as that term is statutorily defined. Schools: Ohio law prohibits the possession of a “deadly weapon” on any ‘School Safety Zone’ which includes, a school, school building, school premises, school activity, and school bus. Critical Dimensions: None noted. Restricted Knives: Ballistic knives. State restrictions applicable generally to the concealed carry of knives have been removed effective April 12, 2021.  Any knife may be carried openly or concealed provided it “was not used as a weapon”. Location-specific “deadly weapon” restrictions […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes. Concealed Carry: Not an issue. Schools: It is an offense to carry weapons on school property.  Critical Dimensions: None. Restricted Knives: None. Tennessee law does not restrict the types of knives that may be possessed or how they may be carried.  State law does provide a location-based restriction for school buildings and grounds. The possession and carry of knives of any type is unlawful on school grounds including public or private, K through university. Relevant Statutes: 39-17-1301.Definitions (contains definitions for “knife” and “switchblade”) 39-17-1302.Prohibited weapons (no knives listed) 39-17-1307.Carrying or possession of weapons  (d) […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Restrictions regarding the carrying of concealed deadly weapons apply to individuals under the age of 21 although there are exceptions for an “ordinary pocket knife” or “hunting knife”. Minors: There is no statutory limitation regarding the possession of knives by minors. Schools: Deadly weapons, which include knives, may not be possessed or carried on school property. Some limited exceptions are provided. Restricted Knives: None. Kentucky adopted a “Constitutional Carry” statute which became effective June 27, 2019. This law applies to knives and other “deadly weapons,” a term defined under Kentucky law. The […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Not permitted for Bowie knives. Schools: Weapons are not permitted on school property. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Montgomery – Three-inch blade limitation. Critical Dimensions: None noted. Restricted Knives: None noted. An individual’s preference for knives, and the manner of carry, is subject to minimal interference by Alabama law. It is an offense to concealed about the person a bowie knife or other knife of like kind and description. Relevant Statutes: 13A-11-50 Carrying Concealed Weapons 13A-11-57 Selling, etc., pistol or bowie knife to a minor 13A-11-61.3 Regulation of firearms, ammunition, and firearm […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes. Concealed Carry: Not a factor. Schools: Various described weapons having a blade of 2 or more inches are prohibited on school grounds, within a school safety zone, at school functions or on transportation furnished by the schools, such as a school bus. Critical Dimensions: 12 inches. Restricted Knives: There are no forbidden knives under Georgia law. Some knives with blades longer than 12 inches are subject statutory weapon restrictions. Any knife having a blade measuring 12 inches or less may be freely carried. Some knives with blades longer than 12 inches are weapons and […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No Concealed Carry: Of knives prohibited unless licensed, except for common pocketknife. Minors: Furnishing a weapon to a minor under the age of 18 or persons of unsound mind is prohibited. Schools: Weapons may not be possessed on school grounds. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Various municipalities and cities have knife ordinances. Restricted Knives: Ballistic knives are forbidden. It is unlawful to conceal carry any knife except a common pocketknife.  Knives, (but not firearms) may be carried openly subject to location-based restrictions. A holder of a 790.06. may carry a concealed knife. Relevant Statutes: 790.001. Definitions (Provides […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: South Carolina has a concealed deadly weapon statute. Schools: There is a specific prohibition for any knife with a blade over 2 inches long, as well as a general prohibition to any type of weapon in schools. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville Restricted Knives: None. Christopher Gadsden (1724-1805) of Charleston, South Carolina, was a Patriot, Revolutionary War leader, and the designer of what we now know as the Gadsden Flag. The “Don’t Tread on Me” perspective may be seen in South Carolina knife law which allows a law-abiding person […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No Concealed Carry: The concealed carry law contains an exception for “an ordinary pocket knife”. Minors: It is unlawful to sell or furnish a “bowie knife” or “dirk” to a minor. Schools: Knives may not be possessed openly or concealed on school grounds. Critical Dimensions: None noted. Restricted  Knives:  “Ballistic knives” are forbidden. It is unlawful for anyone, including police officers, to manufacture, sell, possess or carry any “ballistic knife.” There is a narrow exception whereby law enforcement officials may possess such knives for evidentiary or training purposes. North Carolina law, 14-269, restricts the concealed […]