🤨knife

[Hec]

I have been dropping off and picking my son up at his school 4yrs since we moved to tennessee. The other day I get a heads up from someone on the staff (coming from the SRO I’m sure. That I need to cover my knife that I can’t wear that in the school. That it’s illegal. 

I wear a knife fixed or folding on my belt for work. Is this legal or illegal and what is the statute that addresses this.

 

 

[Whisper]

The SRO is right.  Open carry of a knife on school property is prohibited.  It was contained in SB1438 in 2014, but I don't know the precise sections of the TCA that it affected.  It's practically the only knife law left in TN. 

You can carry a knife on school property; it just has to be covered up.

[DaveTN]

39-17-1309 is the law.

Since it requires “Intent to go armed” some would argue you may/may not fall into that category. Unfortunately you may have to make that argument in court. If someone on the staff commented on it; don't do it.

https://advance.lexis.com/documentpage/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=29cdc632-475d-4e00-a924-1486c59a397e&nodeid=ABNAAOAANAAJ&nodepath=%2FROOT%2FABN%2FABNAAO%2FABNAAOAAN%2FABNAAOAANAAJ&level=4&haschildren=&populated=false&title=39-17-1309.+Carrying+weapons+on+school+property.&config=025054JABlOTJjNmIyNi0wYjI0LTRjZGEtYWE5ZC0zNGFhOWNhMjFlNDgKAFBvZENhdGFsb2cDFQ14bX2GfyBTaI9WcPX5&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fstatutes-legislation%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A50J2-V4S0-R03M-D4G5-00008-00&ecomp=k3d8kkk&prid=72c9153e-f6c6-485e-b015-f6830b8654fb

[RED333]

I have asked this very question of a SRO before. It depends on use, as I repair equipment mine is a tool. How ever use your better judgement.

[peejman]

Sounds like they did you a favor by just asking you to cover it up.  It helps keep the sheeple from getting excited. 

[Hec]

Thank you all.

Lawbreaker I am not; just do not agree with a law that goes as far as a utility knife. I just did not like the non-manly manner in which the situation was handled. Sending a female staff member to ask me to cover it because it’s illegal. Just man up and come inform me. And if it was indeed inform me, and educate me!

[TGO David]

Really one of the sillier laws, but I suspect the intended application of the law was to keep kids from bringing knives to school for nefarious purposes.  As we know, Lady Justice is supposed to be blind and apply the law equally to all, so you got the brunt end of it even as a responsible adult.

Of course... none of this stops kids from bringing knives, guns, or any other contraband to schools as we've all well seen.

 

[Moped]

Man, back in the late 70’s I carried a Uncle Henry Folding Hunter in a leather pouch on belt all the time. And there shotguns and rifles in the gun racks outside in the school parking lot.  Times reall did change. College kids are now scared to carry pocket knifes on their college campuses because they are weapons. Sad.