document updated 12 years ago, on Dec 27, 2011
Main question: What sort of large knife can I carry in Chicago?
Laws
The raw laws:
- Federal
- Illinois Compiled Statutes
- Cook County, Code of Ordinances
- Chicago, Municipal Code
My main questions
- Is open-carry treated differently than concealed carry? Are folding-knives treated differently than non-folding knives?
- If not, then how is it handled if you're taking kitchen knives home from the store? (or to/from the thrift store? Or to/from your chef buddy's house?)
My conclusions
It's the officer's discretion whether something in the gray area counts as a weapon or not. A weight on the end of a rope could be considered a blackjack/sap, or it might be something completely different, something not used for weapon purposes.
A kitchen knife very well could be used as a weapon. If a kitchen knife is used in the commision of a crime, certainly it will be counted as a weapon. If it's found in a shopping bag alongside other purchases, it almost certainly won't. Carried in a backpack, alongside some other juggling supplies, it's probably not a weapon, but again, it's the officer's discretion.
Why I want to carry large knives
I juggle knives. If I find myself standing around somewhere with nothing to do, I like to practice.
While I can juggle shorter knives (a 2.5" blade is within the legal limit in Chicago), I really prefer a heavier knife for juggling.
I actually prefer kitchen knives bought from the thrift store, but folding knives are okay too, if they've got a >3.5" blade.
Why I'm concerned about the particulars
I'm transgender. Going to jail is something I want to avoid if at all possible, even if it's for only an hour, even if all charges are dropped. Being jailed means a real risk of harassment (or even assault) by the prison guards or other inmates.
Examples of prison guards harassing and assaulting transgender women are easy to find:
[1]
[2]
There is also a lot of literature suggesting that LGBT folks are more likely to be victims of sexual assault from other prisoners:
[1]
[2]
Prison officials appear to acknowledge that transgender women are at higher risk for assault, because they're often automatically put in solitary isolation, as a way to protect them from the rest of the prison population.
[1]
[2]
Specific variations of kitchen knives
Specific types of kitchen knives may make the officer believe the knife is less likely to be used in the commision of a crime: