Target shooting is a legitimate use. You can hunt with an "assault" rifle - many people take coyotes with .223. Every use is a legitimate use, until a crime is committed. Capacity of the magazine is largely irrevelant.

My $0.02. Change accepted.

~W

I am seldom without some sort of pocketknife unless showering, and have never been hassled. I carry Spyderco knives with the pocketclip in my right front pocket, and a Wave in the leather sheath on my right hip. At work, a Squirt P4 in my fanny pack, because scrubs don't have too many pockets! I set off metal detectors in the hospitals, but security/police are more interested in visitors than the staff. I make a point to keep a stethescope visible in my vehicle, and usually have a hospital ID with me. Police tend to cut a little slack to medical workers, hoping that they don't need our services someday.
I used to wear EMS style pants when transporting patients between hospitals, and I carried enough knives and multitools to give the TSA folks a heart attack!

Im 16 and carry I Benchmade 705BT on me out of school with no problems 99% of the time. If I am bothered usually explaining that I am an Eagle scout and a Boy Scout instructor of knife use and saftey calms people down. I've never taken it anywhere with a metal detector (for fear of losing a $140 knife), however I have gone through many places with the small SAK on my keychain no problem.

Pre 9-11 I routinely carried multitools and folding pocket knives without any raised eyebrows. Now, I make sure that they have no reason to question my carryon. Two post 9-11 flights with my emergency "home away from home bag" received a close look see by the security. I had removed the "objectionble items" the night before and used the added space to carry a small rain poncho, added food snacks. My companions asked the standard questions regarding why several flashlights etc. The security was more concerned with the high heeled boots worn by a 55 year old lady in my group.

In the early 80's I was asked to remove my 3.5" single blade folder when taking my family to the annual county fair. The knife was in a leather case on my belt, both the knife and the case were rather plain (Sears Roebuck). They were accomodating about it. I let them hold it and they issued a receipt, it was politely returned when I left. Sadly, this has become more the norm now, rather than the exception when wearing a belt mounted case and knife. While I was a bit irritated, I let it go as I was still carrying my SAK in a pocket.

Times have changed.

Some label knives as weapons but anything can be a weapon. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Well yes in the world of presliced bread, cold cuts, cheese and single serving mayo pockets anything sharp is perceived as a weapon. So is the sharp mind... Soon you will get your medium rare 16 oz. precut and presliced. And spork will rule the world...

I would consider you to be very lucky so far. Our school system, as well as many others across the country have zero tolerance policies for possession of a knife, especially amongst the student population. And while we could debate the effectiveness, and purpose of the policies, they are the existing policies never the less. In our school system, being caught with a knife for any reason is an automatic suspension with possible explosion and there is no appeal process. So, please be very cautious in carrying a knife onto school property, it may be that it has not yet caught up with you yet or that the “wrong” person will find your reason unacceptable. Pete

Wow, that is harsh!!! <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

FWIW Pete,
Paul wrote was that he carried the knife "out of school".
Stay safe,
J.T.

You are correct, missed the "out". Thanks Pete