• Legal? Illegal? It depends on what state you live in.knife image by Andrey Khritin from Fotolia.com
  
  Weapons laws can vary greatly from state to state. The definitions of certain crimes concerning weapons and the penalties pertaining to them are normally left to the states and kept out of federal regulation. Knives are an example because some types may be considered illegal in one state yet allowed in another. Florida has its own set of laws concerning knives and the legality of concealed knives.
  
  

Definition of Concealed Weapon

• The state of Florida describes a concealed weapon as "dirk, metallic knuckles, slingshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person." This definition is intentionally vague enough to warrant interpretation on a case-by-case basis but specific enough to cover a number of weapons that are banned under all circumstances. Knives are specifically not mentioned, because it depends on the attributes of the knife, such as blade length and opening mechanism. Carrying a concealed weapon like mace, pepper spray or a nonlethal stun gun (that does not fire a projectile) is not illegal when used for lawful self-defense.
  
  

Propelled Knives

• Florida law states: "It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, display, sell, own, possess, or use a ballistic self-propelled knife which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile and which physically separates the blade from the device by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas." This means that any spring-loaded blade or knife that opens with a push-button is illegal under any and all circumstances. The law goes on to state that those types of knives are considered to be deadly and are a contraband item in the state of Florida. A knife that opens by pushing the knife blade out manually via the use of a stud on the blade or by pulling the blade out manually does not apply to this law.
  
  

Common Pocketknives

• "Common pocketknives" are deemed legal in Florida, as long as they are not used as weapons or in a way that brings harm. Common knives are pocketknives that do not have an automatic opening device and are not of a switchblade-style. The blade is pushed or pulled out manually, and the blade is not of excessive length, though there is not a specific length given. Any other weapons require a license to be carried in a concealed manner.