Personal Protection Knives

The world of personal protection knives can be tricky territory. On the one hand, citizens absolutely have a constitutional right to defend themselves. On the other hand, carrying a knife may raise the stakes dramatically during an encounter, especially if your attacker also has a knife. Even worse, your assailant may have a gun, in which case your knife will afford you little in the way of protection.

Most schools and workplaces also have restrictions on the type of knives that may be carried. While a principal is less likely to suspend a student who carries a one-inch blade on his Swiss Army knife, he or she is far more likely to take disciplinary action against students with switchblades. Carrying a flip-style blade such as this might even earn you expulsion from school. The same holds true of the office environment as well.

So Why Are Personal Protection Knives Advertised?

Again, as specified in the second amendment to the Constitution, congress cannot abridge your right to bear arms. More importantly, however, knives often turn out to be useful tools. A one- or two-inch blade can make quick work of cargo such as taped-up boxes and packages and is great for sawing through rope, twine, and certain types of cables.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls on each individual to know the local and state laws in his or her own area. Some institutions have a zero-tolerance policy toward weapons of any stripe, including tools that they perceive as weapons. Needless to say, airport security workers are just some of the employees who have little sense of humor when it comes to discussion of blades, no matter how modest in length they may be, so plan your travels accordingly.