Carrying fixed knives?
 

Today while getting gas at the Publix Southern Trace Shell station about 10 a.m. near the Dunkin Donuts there was a motorcyclist with a fixed knife that looked to have a blade of 6 inches or more. The whole thing-- blade and handle-- looked to be about a foot or a little more in length.

State Knife Carry and Blade Length Laws

It was a rough looking 50ish couple on the bike. Not the often seen "accountant on a Harley" you often see around Bike Week.

I was wondering how legal is this in Florida and the surrounding states? I have not seen this before on bikers but cannot really say I have been around a lot of them except for the groups coming through the Villages for Bike Week in Leesburg who look more like librarians, teachers, lawyers, etc. than someone who just stepped off the set of The Sons of Anarchy. That is about a Hell's Angels like motorcycle club in Northern California.

There is probably a lot more to it, than what I found.

790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.—(1) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized to issue licenses to carry concealed weapons or concealed firearms to persons qualified as provided in this section. Each such license must bear a color photograph of the licensee. For the purposes of this section, concealed weapons or concealed firearms are defined as a handgun, electronic weapon or device, tear gas gun, knife, or billie, but the term does not include a machine gun as defined in s. 790.001(9). Such licenses shall be valid throughout the state for a period of 7 years from the date of issuance. Any person in compliance with the terms of such license may carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm notwithstanding the provisions of s. 790.01. The licensee must carry the license, together with valid identification, at all times in which the licensee is in actual possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and must display both the license and proper identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer. Violations of the provisions of this subsection shall constitute a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25, payable to the clerk of the court.

I guess it wasn't concealed ? ?

If you saw the knife, it is an open carry, and he can carry a machete, katana, saber, cutlass, cane knife, scimitar, etc if he wants to.

Did he hurt you in any way or make a dangerous move towards you?

I don't understand why you were even concerned?

I can't speak for the OP, but some people feel a little uneasy around plain folks carrying deadly weapons.

Given a chance, I'll maintain a good distance.

According to the poster a man with a hunting kinfe strapped to his belt and riding a motorcyle drove into a Shell station, paid for his gas, pumped his gas and drove away and never bothered a soul. We better find a spot in the "A" block of the 11pm local news for this story!

Actually, I never saw the couple buy any gas. They were buying something in the store as well as using some of the paper towels near the station I had my car in. I had to wait for the senior male motorcyclist with the foot long knife to get out of the way before I could pull up to the gas pump.

I just was curious what the laws were about carrying knives out in the open like this? And it seems to vary a great deal from state-to-state as well as city-to-city.

I guess when your easy rider rifle rack just won't fit across the back of your bike, a "hunting knife" strapped to your belt is the next best thing.

Maybe I should have asked him if it was alligator season? He just looked like he was planning on going into some very rough neighborhoods where they would probably have machine pistols of some sort.

We all have our stereo typical models for people heavily influenced by experience, the movies or television.......accountants on their Harleys!

Sometimes I wish I had not started reading a thread. this is one of those times. Trying to stick to the topic....
My read of Florida statutes indicates that one may ONLY openly carry a knife, BUT not conceal it without a permit.

definitions, Fl statutes...
13) “Weapon” means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife.

Apparently one may not conceal a knife without a concealed carry permit. Interesting....what if you carried a butcher knife in a basket to grandma's to carve the turkey, on your Harley?

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.—
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) A person who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.—
(1) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized to issue licenses to carry concealed weapons or concealed firearms to persons qualified as provided in this section. Each such license must bear a color photograph of the licensee. For the purposes of this section, concealed weapons or concealed firearms are defined as a handgun, electronic weapon or device, tear gas gun, knife, or billie, but the term does not include a machine gun as defined in s. 790.001(9). Such licenses shall be valid throughout the state for a period of 7 years from the date of issuance. Any person in compliance with the terms of such license may carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm notwithstanding the provisions of s. 790.01. The licensee must carry the license, together with valid identification, at all times in which the licensee is in actual possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and must display both the license and proper identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer.

addendum in following post on open carry

addendum: open carrying (unconcealed) of weapons OTHER than firearms and electric devices (weapons minus firearms=knife, etc) is not prohibited. Also Certain weapons are allowed open carry self defense, such as chemical spray and stun guns.

ps...I'm not an attorney. correct me if you are and I'm wrong.

790.053 Open carrying of weapons.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device. It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.

(2) A person may openly carry, for purposes of lawful self-defense:
(a) A self-defense chemical spray.

(b) A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.

(3) Any person violating this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

An open carry is less dangerous than concealed. It is an honest up front statement: WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. You waited for the couple to finish their business and leave before pulling up to fill your tank. Now imagine a slow accountant in that position, so you honk your horn and because he is a hothead, he pulls his legally concealed Pistol and kills you both. Sometimes appearances can be deceiving.

That's very true. This was a rather grimy looking motorcycle couple so it seemed like everyone else at that gas station was giving them a very wide berth. Their clothes looked like they had been on for quite some time.

i'll take them over a NYC snowbird:icon_wink:

knife
 

I have a fixed screw driver in my tool box that i carry 12 inches long hope it is not a consealed weapon. Lets get real.

Taltarzac asked a simple question, that's all he did. Please cut him some slack

Someone asks a reasonable question and gets flack from other posters. This is why I seldom post, and when I do, the subject is usually something non-controversial. Do unto others . . . . . .

I believe I can tell a screwdriver from a knife. And, this motorcycle couple looked extremely tough and seemed to want to present themselves to the world that way. I do not remember if they were wearing gang colors or not. Then again I would probably not know if they were unless it was very obvious to the general public. They could have been wearing something that only other gang members, some cops and some media would recognize.

I represented a gang member of a motorcycle gang while a student and then Student Director with Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners at the University of Minnesota Law School (Class of 1989). His gang would have fit in with the show Sons of Anarchy is all I can say and not breach the lawyer/client privilege.

Of course, maybe I should have invited the couple over to watch Mary Poppins? I have been viewing it again before rewatching Saving Mr. Banks.

You should not deny yourself participation because of a very few who have complete and utter disregard for anything but their own views.

Join the majority and enjoy TOTV for what it offers and like the majority here just ignore the antagonist type.

Personally I really don't care if he was carrying a bazooka. If it was me I would have said hello and asked, how is the ride going and where are you headed. This sounded like a person I want on my side in the event of trouble. By the way I conceal carry so I don't scare anyone.

Bingo:coolsmiley:

I found a kind and friendly word stops more altercations then a show of force. But if you step across the line I can sting. A throw back to my Military Police days. Cute avatar......

Once again the OP is attacked when asking an honest question. If you don't like the way a question is asked move on and get over it. :duck:

I'm carrying a lot that needs to be concealed so I use spanx.:icon_wink:

Depends on your perspective. The way a statements is worded can make a big difference on the responses you'll get. Also what statement you feel needs to be made. Some innocent statements can be worded to be either very thought provoking or controversial by not only what has been stated but by the underlying thought perceived by the reader. Anyone that voices an opinion should be ready to be either praised or condemned by some or many. Bottom line its is this interaction of dialog that has solved many of the worlds problems and raised many of the worlds questions. Also those in the dialog should be careful not to respond personally or attack and just present how they feel about the subject. I know this is not about the original post. In this case the original post opened many doors besides the fact that the biker was caring a large knife openly.

That's funny. And, I do not believe that everyone in the Villages or passing through is nice and just out for an leisurely motorcycle ride especially if they look like they have not bathed or showed or laundered in three or more days and present a very tough looking persona. I wonder how many Villagers you know who have foot long knives on their belts? This is the first time I have seen someone carrying like this in the Villages. I have seen workmen with pocket or a little larger knives. I have been known to carry one of these myself. I think the blade is about 2 inches. It's in my pocket, i.e. concealed, but used for everyday things like opening Walgrens battery packs.

If I see someone carrying a sword or machete in the Villages I am not going to ask them how is the weather. Unless of course they seem to have a reason for carrying a machete like cutting down palm fronds or something like that.

T-725..You keep mentioning how "rough looking" they were. So? By your own posting you indicated that they didn't bother a soul. Don't they have a right to buy gas at that station, or are people only allowed at that Shell station if they fit a certain dress code? As far as carrying knives around, I grew up in the country and a LOT of guys carried hunting knives on their belts for a lot of reasons. I think when you get down to it, you are more concerned about their look and how they don't fit into your scenery than about the knife itself.

I was at lunch at the Speckled Butterbean, across from Brownwood, before it closed, and about 25 grungy looking bikers came in to eat. They wore "colors" to indicate that they were affiliated, and some wore patches that indicated they were "1 percenters." That is gang code for not caring about the conventions of regular society. Many were wearing knives.

At the time I was getting around with a walker. As I approached the door to leave, one of them came over and held the door for me and gave me a pleasant smile. You can't judge entirely on appearance.

Of course in a different situation they were probably capable of very nasty behavior.

Sounds like a group I would rather have in my corner during a problem. I traveled extensively before I retired. The one thing I learned is the way some one looks does not indicate what's in their heart. Some of the worst crimes have come from some of the nicest looking people.

It was a rough looking 50ish couple on the bike. Not the often seen "accountant on a Harley" you often see around Bike Week."

I think we've missed the point. Rough looking on Harley" Old School Hell's Angles (did they have gang patches on?) not the normal Nerds want be bad boys on their 30K plus Harley's trying to be cool and tough looking.:1rotfl:

Why are we all concerned about how this couple looked, what they drove, and what they were carrying?

[QUOTE=Steve9930;853791]Why are we all concerned about how this couple looked, what they drove, and what they were carrying?[/

Movie/television character influenced profiling? :)

[quote=billethkid;853794]Or parental prejudice passed on to their children.

If the original question was "only" about what sort of knives are legal to open carry in FL, then the question could have been asked exactly that way. There was no need to add in the colorful description of "rough looking" bikers.

While I don't have extensive knowledge of 1% bikers I do actually know a couple of them, and the bottom line is they are not going to bother you unless you bother them. Mostly they want to be left alone with their own kind of people. Also, most 1% bikers are VERY respectful to older people and veterans.

You talk with tongue of honest man. I have rode for 53 years and have seen all types, to include men in brooks brothers suits sporting marine style hair cut that are far more violent than any biker I have associated with.

That's interesting. And my point of posting this thread was merely to ask about the legality of caring knives like this in Florida and surrounding States like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

I never said a word to this biker couple and while I was at the Shell Station saw no one else approach them. Certainly very nasty things have been done by very well dressed people. In some situations, however, it probably is very wise to judge a book by its cover and play it carefully as pretty much everyone else that encountered this couple did while at that Shell Station.


I kind of resent the attacks on my character implying I am prejudiced or my parents are prejudiced because I avoided interacting with a biker with a foot long knife in a service station. At a restaurant if a guy or woman holds a door open for me, I would say "Thank You" no matter what he or she looked like.

I kind of resent the attacks on my character implying I am prejudiced or my parents are prejudiced because I avoided interacting with a biker with a foot long knife in a service station. At a restaurant if a guy or woman holds a door open for me, I would say "Thank You" no matter what he or she looked like.[/QUOTE]

You jumped a big space to think I was attacking you or your parents character. Wow, all I can say is if the shoe does not fit, it's not yours.

You seem to like picking fights on TOTV?