IN RESPONSE TO ALL THE RECENT E-MAILS ABOUT OUR DOG: I AM SICK AND TIRED OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM.
YES, HE BIT 6 PEOPLE WEARING OBAMA T-SHIRTS...
4 PEOPLE WEARING HILLARY T-SHIRTS...
2 CAR DRIVERS WITH BERNIE SANDERS BUMPER STICKERS...
9 TEENAGERS WITH PANTS HANGING PAST THEIR ASS CRACKS...
2 FLAG BURNERS...
AND A PAKISTANI TAXI DRIVER.
SO, FOR THE LAST TIME...
THE DOG IS NOT FOR SALE !
AND NO, I DO NOT APPROVE OF HIS SMOKING BUT HE SAYS IT HELPS GET THE 'BAD TASTE' OUT OF HIS MOUTH.
↧
The Dog is not for sale!!
↧
ENJOY
↧
↧
BABE OF THE DAY
↧
A New York Police Department Says It’s Illegal to Own Handguns as a Member of a Motorcycle Club
OFF THE WIRE
The unconstitutional harassment of the Pagans Motorcycle Club on Long Island continues at an accelerated pace. Following the militarized “show of force” at a charity event hosted by the Pagans MC October 17th, which resulted in massive civil liberty violations, the Suffolk County Police Department continues its campaign of unconstitutional harassment. The SCPD is confiscating the handguns of members of the Pagans MC that have no criminal record and have been issued legal permits by Suffolk County.
Suffolk County
Motorcycle clubs, including the Pagans MC, are constitutionally protected associations and the right to bear arms is fundamental. “Anyone concerned with government overriding legal mechanisms allowing gun ownership should be highly concerned about law enforcement’s obvious attempts to disarm members of motorcycle clubs based on nothing more than association.” (See It’s Illegal For Motorcycle Club Members To Own Guns? that’s What Authorities Say August 25, 2015)
So what is the SCPD doing? On Thursday October 22nd, the SCPD contacted a member of the Pagans MC and informed him that his legal permit issued by Suffolk County was under review because of his alleged membership in the Pagans MC. The SCPD requested that he come down to the station for an interview and bring all 10 of his legally purchased and registered handguns.
The member, in good faith, says he went down to the station with his legal handguns in order to be interviewed. This member has absolutely no criminal record and he had been legally issued a permit. He thought he could clear it up, he says.
But the SCPD had no intention of making an evaluation based on the interview. It is clear that the decision to confiscate this man’s legal handguns was made before he ever arrived. The member was given no real choice. He was told he could give up being a Pagan and keep his permit and guns. Police told him that it is illegal to own a gun in New York as a member of an outlaw motorcycle club like the Pagans. Police said there was recent Supreme Court precedent that confirmed the law.
The man says he was told that as a member of the Pagans his only options were to either voluntarily terminate his permit and turn his guns over or his permit would be involuntarily terminated and he would lose all of his guns unable to transfer them to a legal owner. And he says they warned he could spend thousands on an appeal which he would never win and still lose his property. The member, coerced into an impossible choice, says he voluntarily relinquished his permit and handed over his legally owned property.
Although any attorney will tell you that you should always have an attorney when dealing with law enforcement, and incidents like this are exactly why, SCPD’s actions are deplorable and inexcusable. The right to associate as a member of a motorcycle club, including the Pagans, has been confirmed by case law. (See How Waco Is Being Used To Decimate The 1st Amendment JUNE 26, 2015). Unfortunately, there is no law against the police lying to you, it happens in criminal investigations all the time, and they often get people to relinquish their own rights.
This man did not commit a crime. Law enforcement is defining membership in a group they label a gang as a crime (a group that has validated 1st Amendment protection) with no judicial check on due process for that determination.
“Simply carrying a legal gun as a member of a motorcycle club, including a 1% club, is not a crime.” This seems abundantly clear when an individual possesses a permit. “The courts have concluded that motorcycle club associations and colors, including 1% clubs, are protected by the 1st Amendment. It is not illegal to be in a club, otherwise they could arrest an individual for wearing colors. By this logic, you could be denied your right to vote.” (See How Waco Is Being Used To Decimate The 1st Amendment JUNE 26, 2015)
“In a very real way, the fate of motorcyclists will serve as a blue print for other groups in the future. Disarming bikers is a strategy to cripple the rights base of one of the most visible and active grassroots social and political movements in America. Much of the movement’s efforts are to combat civil liberty abuses by law enforcement targeting motorcyclists. If bikers are successfully marginalized as criminals not worthy of baseline liberties, then the strength of our political movement exposing law enforcement abuses will be crippled as well. It’s a blueprint for social control in the 21st Century.” (See It’s Illegal For Motorcycle Club Members To Own Guns? that’s What Authorities Say August 25, 2015)
The unconstitutional harassment of the Pagans Motorcycle Club on Long Island continues at an accelerated pace. Following the militarized “show of force” at a charity event hosted by the Pagans MC October 17th, which resulted in massive civil liberty violations, the Suffolk County Police Department continues its campaign of unconstitutional harassment. The SCPD is confiscating the handguns of members of the Pagans MC that have no criminal record and have been issued legal permits by Suffolk County.
Suffolk County
Motorcycle clubs, including the Pagans MC, are constitutionally protected associations and the right to bear arms is fundamental. “Anyone concerned with government overriding legal mechanisms allowing gun ownership should be highly concerned about law enforcement’s obvious attempts to disarm members of motorcycle clubs based on nothing more than association.” (See It’s Illegal For Motorcycle Club Members To Own Guns? that’s What Authorities Say August 25, 2015)
So what is the SCPD doing? On Thursday October 22nd, the SCPD contacted a member of the Pagans MC and informed him that his legal permit issued by Suffolk County was under review because of his alleged membership in the Pagans MC. The SCPD requested that he come down to the station for an interview and bring all 10 of his legally purchased and registered handguns.
The member, in good faith, says he went down to the station with his legal handguns in order to be interviewed. This member has absolutely no criminal record and he had been legally issued a permit. He thought he could clear it up, he says.
But the SCPD had no intention of making an evaluation based on the interview. It is clear that the decision to confiscate this man’s legal handguns was made before he ever arrived. The member was given no real choice. He was told he could give up being a Pagan and keep his permit and guns. Police told him that it is illegal to own a gun in New York as a member of an outlaw motorcycle club like the Pagans. Police said there was recent Supreme Court precedent that confirmed the law.
The man says he was told that as a member of the Pagans his only options were to either voluntarily terminate his permit and turn his guns over or his permit would be involuntarily terminated and he would lose all of his guns unable to transfer them to a legal owner. And he says they warned he could spend thousands on an appeal which he would never win and still lose his property. The member, coerced into an impossible choice, says he voluntarily relinquished his permit and handed over his legally owned property.
Although any attorney will tell you that you should always have an attorney when dealing with law enforcement, and incidents like this are exactly why, SCPD’s actions are deplorable and inexcusable. The right to associate as a member of a motorcycle club, including the Pagans, has been confirmed by case law. (See How Waco Is Being Used To Decimate The 1st Amendment JUNE 26, 2015). Unfortunately, there is no law against the police lying to you, it happens in criminal investigations all the time, and they often get people to relinquish their own rights.
This man did not commit a crime. Law enforcement is defining membership in a group they label a gang as a crime (a group that has validated 1st Amendment protection) with no judicial check on due process for that determination.
“Simply carrying a legal gun as a member of a motorcycle club, including a 1% club, is not a crime.” This seems abundantly clear when an individual possesses a permit. “The courts have concluded that motorcycle club associations and colors, including 1% clubs, are protected by the 1st Amendment. It is not illegal to be in a club, otherwise they could arrest an individual for wearing colors. By this logic, you could be denied your right to vote.” (See How Waco Is Being Used To Decimate The 1st Amendment JUNE 26, 2015)
“In a very real way, the fate of motorcyclists will serve as a blue print for other groups in the future. Disarming bikers is a strategy to cripple the rights base of one of the most visible and active grassroots social and political movements in America. Much of the movement’s efforts are to combat civil liberty abuses by law enforcement targeting motorcyclists. If bikers are successfully marginalized as criminals not worthy of baseline liberties, then the strength of our political movement exposing law enforcement abuses will be crippled as well. It’s a blueprint for social control in the 21st Century.” (See It’s Illegal For Motorcycle Club Members To Own Guns? that’s What Authorities Say August 25, 2015)
↧
Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Washington, D.C.
OFF THE WIRE
Today at the U.S. Department of Transportation's - Road to Zero on traffic fatalities:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates THEY WILL BE MORE DELIBERATE THAN EVER IN INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC DEATHS....see the list in the pic.
Community Guide? More like strict restrictions, backed up by threats of illegal taxes, called fines, court appearances - more fines, possible jail time...and even abuse by the hands of law enforcement if you look at them wrong...
![Image may contain: 1 person]()
Is probably a matter of time before they will add rider conspicuity (reflective gear), and guidelines on the levels of marijuana consumed..among other things. Hell, why not completely remove any form of distraction...talking, listening to music, rubbing your eye, looking at your gps, eating/drinking etc. It is only going to get worse.
Today at the U.S. Department of Transportation's - Road to Zero on traffic fatalities:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates THEY WILL BE MORE DELIBERATE THAN EVER IN INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC DEATHS....see the list in the pic.
Community Guide? More like strict restrictions, backed up by threats of illegal taxes, called fines, court appearances - more fines, possible jail time...and even abuse by the hands of law enforcement if you look at them wrong...
↧
↧
BABE OF THE DAY
↧
BABE OF THE DAY - ALEX
↧
BABE OF THE DAY - ANICKA
↧
BREAKING: Calif. DOJ Issues “High-Capacity” Magazine Ban Regulations
OFF THE WIRE
Under the new law, gun owners have six months to dispose of or permanently alter their large-capacity magazines. https://www.firearmspolicy.org/…/calif-doj-issues-high-ca…/…
![IMG_0383]()
At 8:52 a.m this morning, we received from the California Department of Justice new “emergency” regulations on “large-capacity” (so-called “high-capacity”) firearm magazines.
Files:
Under the new law, gun owners have six months to dispose of or permanently alter their large-capacity magazines. https://www.firearmspolicy.org/…/calif-doj-issues-high-ca…/…
At 8:52 a.m this morning, we received from the California Department of Justice new “emergency” regulations on “large-capacity” (so-called “high-capacity”) firearm magazines.
Files:
- Notice of Proposed Emergency Action (12/15/16)
- Text of Regulations
- Finding of Emergency
- Large-Capacity Magazine Permit Application (adopt)
- Large-Capacity Magazine Report (adopt)
- STD 399 Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement
- Large-Capacity Magazine Permit Application (repeal)
Under the new law, gun owners have six months to dispose of or permanently alter their large-capacity magazines. Pursuant to Penal Code section 32310, subdivision (c), a person who legally possesses a large-capacity magazine shall dispose of that magazine by any of the following means prior to July 1, 2017: (1) remove the large-capacity magazine from the state; (2) sell the large-capacity magazine to a licensed firearms dealer; (3) destroy the large-capacity magazine; or (4) surrender the large-capacity magazine to a law enforcement agency for destruction.We will have further analysis on this development soon. In the meantime, please take our short magazine ban poll and let us know where you stand on this outrageous infringement of Second Amendment rights:
Alternatively, gun owners may permanently alter large-capacity magazines by reducing their ammunition capacity so that it no longer meets the definition of a “large-capacity magazine.” [ ] By providing this information to the public in a timely manner, through the emergency process, the Department will avert serious harm to public peace, health, safety, or general welfare.
↧
↧
BABE OF THE DAY
↧
BABE OF THE DAY
↧
Knife Carry Laws in California
OFF THE WIRE
California law makes it illegal to possess and carry certain types of knives. Many are confused as to what types of knives are legal, and which types are illegal. For purposes of this blog we will seek to shed some light as to what constitutes legal carry of knives.
Per the penal code there are many types of “knives”, each with it’s own description and set of laws. These include, ballistic knives, switch blades, folding knives, dirk or dagger, belt knives, assisted opening knives, disguised knives etc. As a general rule of thumb, most exotic types of blades are outright illegal for the common citizen to possess, sale, manufacture, etc. See California Penal Code Section 12020(a)(1) for detail.
What Types of knives can be legally carried?
The three most common types of knives are folding knives, switch blades and fixed blade knives also know as dirks or daggers. We will define each type of knife and explain the laws surrounding them.
Folding knives are knives that “opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position” . All folding knives are legal. California Penal Code Section 17235. As long as they are in the folded position they can be carried in a concealed manner. There is no blade length restriction per the penal code.
Switch blades are generally defined as knives that look like folding knives but lack the above elements. (thumb stud, bias toward the closed position etc). They include spring blades, snap blades, gravity knives or any knife which can be opened automatically. Automatically, meaning by a mechanism, spring, gravity, flick of the wrist etc. The blade must be 2 inches in length or longer in order to be classified as a switch blade. Switch blades are illegal to sell or give away. They are illegal to carry in public, concealed or open. Penal Code section 17235.
For fixed blades (known as a dirk or dagger), or a folding knife in the open and locked position, they must be carried “openly”. California Penal Code section 16470 classifies a dirk or dagger as a knife or instrument with or without a hand guard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. Per the penal code there is no length limit as long as it is carried openly. A knife carried in a sheath that is worn openly suspended from the waist of the wearer is considered open carry and is legal. Penal code section 20200. Carrying a concealed dirk or dagger is illegal pursuant to Penal Code Section 12020(a)(4).
There are restrictions as to carrying knives when entering schools, Universities and Colleges, and Public buildings open to the public such as courts, city halls, police stations etc. For Schools K-12, no knives with blades longer than 2.5 inches are allowed unless they are required for particular work type duties. Razor blades and box cutters are also prohibited. Penal Code section 626.10. For colleges and Universities, no fixed blades bigger than 2.5 inches are allowed. However there is no restriction on folding knives as long as they don’t fall under the category of switch blades. For state or local public buildings, it is illegal to carry any knife with a blade of more than 4 inches onto the premise. California Penal Code Section 171b.
California law makes it illegal to possess and carry certain types of knives. Many are confused as to what types of knives are legal, and which types are illegal. For purposes of this blog we will seek to shed some light as to what constitutes legal carry of knives.
Per the penal code there are many types of “knives”, each with it’s own description and set of laws. These include, ballistic knives, switch blades, folding knives, dirk or dagger, belt knives, assisted opening knives, disguised knives etc. As a general rule of thumb, most exotic types of blades are outright illegal for the common citizen to possess, sale, manufacture, etc. See California Penal Code Section 12020(a)(1) for detail.
What Types of knives can be legally carried?
The three most common types of knives are folding knives, switch blades and fixed blade knives also know as dirks or daggers. We will define each type of knife and explain the laws surrounding them.
Folding knives are knives that “opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position” . All folding knives are legal. California Penal Code Section 17235. As long as they are in the folded position they can be carried in a concealed manner. There is no blade length restriction per the penal code.
Switch blades are generally defined as knives that look like folding knives but lack the above elements. (thumb stud, bias toward the closed position etc). They include spring blades, snap blades, gravity knives or any knife which can be opened automatically. Automatically, meaning by a mechanism, spring, gravity, flick of the wrist etc. The blade must be 2 inches in length or longer in order to be classified as a switch blade. Switch blades are illegal to sell or give away. They are illegal to carry in public, concealed or open. Penal Code section 17235.
For fixed blades (known as a dirk or dagger), or a folding knife in the open and locked position, they must be carried “openly”. California Penal Code section 16470 classifies a dirk or dagger as a knife or instrument with or without a hand guard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. Per the penal code there is no length limit as long as it is carried openly. A knife carried in a sheath that is worn openly suspended from the waist of the wearer is considered open carry and is legal. Penal code section 20200. Carrying a concealed dirk or dagger is illegal pursuant to Penal Code Section 12020(a)(4).
There are restrictions as to carrying knives when entering schools, Universities and Colleges, and Public buildings open to the public such as courts, city halls, police stations etc. For Schools K-12, no knives with blades longer than 2.5 inches are allowed unless they are required for particular work type duties. Razor blades and box cutters are also prohibited. Penal Code section 626.10. For colleges and Universities, no fixed blades bigger than 2.5 inches are allowed. However there is no restriction on folding knives as long as they don’t fall under the category of switch blades. For state or local public buildings, it is illegal to carry any knife with a blade of more than 4 inches onto the premise. California Penal Code Section 171b.
↧
Knife Laws in California: Is It Legal to Carry One ? By Jim March and also Sy Nazif, Esq.
OFF THE WIRE
The information posted below is from a well-known article written by Jim March titled,
"California Knife Laws: A Comprehensive Guide," url:
http://www.ninehundred.com/~equalccw/knifelaw.html
Also Sy Nazif, Esq. article is from the Bailingwire, newsletter.
ML&R
Philip & Bill
FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN O`SIDE CA, it is written out below.
THE LAWS VARIE FROM CITY TO CITY, TOWN TO TOWN,
COUNTY TO COUNTY ALSO....
California Knife Laws, Since Oceanside PD follows the state statue here it is,
Oceanside City Code 20. 10
1.
SECTION FIVE: DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PACKIN' STEEL
First thing: don't get nervous. If you've read this, you're not going to be breaking any knife laws. California's knife laws are actually pretty decent, better than most states (even the shall-issue gun permit ones). If you're nervous, the cop will read that, and he won't know what to think - but the conversation WILL go downhill.
If you're walking past a cop with a legally concealed knife, DO NOT "pat the knife" to make sure the concealment is still effective. That's the number one way cops spot people packing guns illegally. They'll think that's what you're doing. The resulting conversation won't be pleasant.
If there's any chance at all that the guy is gonna search you, politely declare that you're carrying a "pocketknife legal under state law". Got that? Tell him where it is on you, let him take control of it. DO NOT SCARE THE DUDE WITH THE BADGE AND GUN. Don't reach for nuthin' unless he tells you to do so. At all times, act like this is just a normal business transaction.
So what if he/she thinks your piece(s) is/are illegal?
You explain that California knife law has changed a bunch of times starting in 1997 and twice more that you know of, so you're not terribly surprised there's confusion. Calmly explain as much of the relevant Penal Codes as you can recall...if you're into big folders, PC653k and the bit in 12020 about "not readily available if concealed in the closed position" is a start. If he ain't buying, calmly ask for a supervisor.
If he wants to confiscate your cutlery, ASK FOR A RECEIPT. If he says anything about "that'll mean you'll get a ticket too, and/or an arrest", stand your ground and calmly ask for a receipt. He's bluffing because he wants your knife. Sorry if any cops reading this are offended, but it happens - I've met enough people it's happened to to be a believer, although it hasn't happened to me. If he just plain takes it without a receipt, get his badge number and/or car number (if the latter is all you can get, record the TIME). If it was a city or county cop, make a THEFT complaint in detail with your nearest California Highway Patrol station (they investigate local wrongdoing). If it was CHP, hmmm...complain to the CHP supervisors maybe, or the Sheriff, but for God's sake don't let 'em off clean.
IF YOU HAD TO THREATEN AN ASSAILANT WITH A DRAWN BLADE:
You have two choices: get the hell out of there ASAP and travel far and fast, because odds are, crooks that get chased off by an armed citizen love to file a "he threatened me" complaint and bust YOU. Bug out. NOTE: we're talking about a situation in which you haven't committed a crime, and since no actual violence occurred neither did anybody else. So "fleeing the scene" rules don't really apply. And you also don't want the SOB coming back with reinforcements and/or heavy artillery. Time to go!
If that's not possible, because the crook knows where you are or who you are (or have your car's license plate number), jump on 911 and report an attempted crime, pronto. There are too many lazy cops that just believe the first complaint. Make yours first. You'll probably have one major advantage: the crook will have a violent record and you won't.
IF YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY DRAW BLOOD IN DEFENSE:
When the cops show up, there are only three things you should say: I was in fear of my life, I'm too shaken up to talk, I want a lawyer. (If there are witnesses you know of, point them out to the cops and tell the cops to talk to them.)
Bernie Goetz didn't do that. He was furious at the four attempted muggers, he made that anger plain in a long discussion down at the station, and he ended up getting charged with murder and attempted murder when it was absolutely clear-cut self defense.
When a cop gets involved in a shooting, they understand that immediately afterwards, he's too shaken to explain clearly what happened. So most departments give him 24 hours to settle down before talking to him. But if you're involved in lethal force, some will take advantage of your rattled state to pry garbled statements out of you. You HAVE the right to remain silent. Use it.
I'm assuming here that if you drew or used steel, you had a damned good reason. That's a subject for a much more detailed (not to mention PROFESSIONAL) treatment - see Introduction for some reference works.
Oceanside City Code 20. 10
Knife Laws in
For my first Bailing Wiring Column, I was asked to write about knife laws in
Switchblades and other spring-loaded knives are generally illegal in California
Where does all this information leave us? The short answer is, in a mess. There are certainly things that are illegal: any switchblade with a blade 2" or longer, or concealed possession of any knife with a fixed blade. Other knives may or may not be legal,
![]()
The information posted below is from a well-known article written by Jim March titled,
"California Knife Laws: A Comprehensive Guide," url:
http://www.ninehundred.com/~equalccw/knifelaw.html
Also Sy Nazif, Esq. article is from the Bailingwire, newsletter.
ML&R
Philip & Bill
FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN O`SIDE CA, it is written out below.
THE LAWS VARIE FROM CITY TO CITY, TOWN TO TOWN,
COUNTY TO COUNTY ALSO....
California Knife Laws, Since Oceanside PD follows the state statue here it is,
Oceanside City Code 20. 10
Sec. 20.10 – Weapons - Possession in Public - Prohibited
No person shall be or appear in any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or any public place or place open to public view while carrying upon his person, or having in his immediate possession, any dangerous or deadly weapon. This section shall not be construed to duplicate prohibitions of California state statute, or to prohibit the possession of weapons expressly authorized by California state statute.
1.
SECTION FIVE: DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PACKIN' STEEL
First thing: don't get nervous. If you've read this, you're not going to be breaking any knife laws. California's knife laws are actually pretty decent, better than most states (even the shall-issue gun permit ones). If you're nervous, the cop will read that, and he won't know what to think - but the conversation WILL go downhill.
If you're walking past a cop with a legally concealed knife, DO NOT "pat the knife" to make sure the concealment is still effective. That's the number one way cops spot people packing guns illegally. They'll think that's what you're doing. The resulting conversation won't be pleasant.
If there's any chance at all that the guy is gonna search you, politely declare that you're carrying a "pocketknife legal under state law". Got that? Tell him where it is on you, let him take control of it. DO NOT SCARE THE DUDE WITH THE BADGE AND GUN. Don't reach for nuthin' unless he tells you to do so. At all times, act like this is just a normal business transaction.
So what if he/she thinks your piece(s) is/are illegal?
You explain that California knife law has changed a bunch of times starting in 1997 and twice more that you know of, so you're not terribly surprised there's confusion. Calmly explain as much of the relevant Penal Codes as you can recall...if you're into big folders, PC653k and the bit in 12020 about "not readily available if concealed in the closed position" is a start. If he ain't buying, calmly ask for a supervisor.
If he wants to confiscate your cutlery, ASK FOR A RECEIPT. If he says anything about "that'll mean you'll get a ticket too, and/or an arrest", stand your ground and calmly ask for a receipt. He's bluffing because he wants your knife. Sorry if any cops reading this are offended, but it happens - I've met enough people it's happened to to be a believer, although it hasn't happened to me. If he just plain takes it without a receipt, get his badge number and/or car number (if the latter is all you can get, record the TIME). If it was a city or county cop, make a THEFT complaint in detail with your nearest California Highway Patrol station (they investigate local wrongdoing). If it was CHP, hmmm...complain to the CHP supervisors maybe, or the Sheriff, but for God's sake don't let 'em off clean.
IF YOU HAD TO THREATEN AN ASSAILANT WITH A DRAWN BLADE:
You have two choices: get the hell out of there ASAP and travel far and fast, because odds are, crooks that get chased off by an armed citizen love to file a "he threatened me" complaint and bust YOU. Bug out. NOTE: we're talking about a situation in which you haven't committed a crime, and since no actual violence occurred neither did anybody else. So "fleeing the scene" rules don't really apply. And you also don't want the SOB coming back with reinforcements and/or heavy artillery. Time to go!
If that's not possible, because the crook knows where you are or who you are (or have your car's license plate number), jump on 911 and report an attempted crime, pronto. There are too many lazy cops that just believe the first complaint. Make yours first. You'll probably have one major advantage: the crook will have a violent record and you won't.
IF YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY DRAW BLOOD IN DEFENSE:
When the cops show up, there are only three things you should say: I was in fear of my life, I'm too shaken up to talk, I want a lawyer. (If there are witnesses you know of, point them out to the cops and tell the cops to talk to them.)
Bernie Goetz didn't do that. He was furious at the four attempted muggers, he made that anger plain in a long discussion down at the station, and he ended up getting charged with murder and attempted murder when it was absolutely clear-cut self defense.
When a cop gets involved in a shooting, they understand that immediately afterwards, he's too shaken to explain clearly what happened. So most departments give him 24 hours to settle down before talking to him. But if you're involved in lethal force, some will take advantage of your rattled state to pry garbled statements out of you. You HAVE the right to remain silent. Use it.
I'm assuming here that if you drew or used steel, you had a damned good reason. That's a subject for a much more detailed (not to mention PROFESSIONAL) treatment - see Introduction for some reference works.
Oceanside City Code 20. 10
Sec. 20.10 – Weapons - Possession in Public - Prohibited
No person shall be or appear in any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or any public place or place open to public view while carrying upon his person, or having in his immediate possession, any dangerous or deadly weapon. This section shall not be construed to duplicate prohibitions of California state statute, or to prohibit the possession of weapons expressly authorized by California state statute.
Knife Laws in California
Written by Sy Nazif, Esq Taken from the BAILING WIRE,
was given to me by John, From ABATE, of CA
For my first Bailing Wiring Column, I was asked to write about knife laws in California California
Of course, I wouldn't be a very good attorney without giving a few caveats before I begin. First, remember that carrying any weapon, even one that’s legal, can cause you a lot of grief with law enforcement. Cops routinely write tickets and make arrests for things they incorrectly think is illegal. Being found “not guilty” will not make up for the time and aggravation of getting arrested and missing work -- not to mention the cost of hiring an attorney. Also, this article only covers California California
With those warnings out of the way, California
In California, the following are illegal: (1) Any knife with a blade of 2" or longer, that can be opened with a button or the flick of your wrist; (2) concealed possession of any "dirk" or "dagger," i.e., any stabbing device with a fixed blade, regardless of blade length; (3) possession or sale of any disguised blades, i.e., cane swords, writing pen knives, lipstick knives, etc., or any knife that is undetectable to metal detectors; (4) possession of a knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2" on any school grounds; (5) possession of a fixed-blade knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2" on any college or university grounds; and (6) flashing or waiving any knife or weapon in a threatening manner. Also, certain municipalities have their own laws that may affect the legality of carrying a knife. In Los Angeles
Each of the above issues is discusses in greater detail below.
Switchblades - Penal Code § 653k
the knife "has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position."
The statute further states that it is unlawful to : (1) to possess a switchblade in a vehicle, (2) to carry a switchblade anywhere upon one's person, or (3) to transfer or attempt to sell a switchblade to another person. In the 2009 case of People v. S.C., the Court of Appeals held that possession of a switchblade in a person's pocket, boot, etc., is unlawful, even if even if in one's own home. In other words, it’s illegal to have a switchblade with a 2" or longer blade – period.
It should also be noted that a pocketknife that was legal when manufactured, but is broken or modified so that it will open freely, is a switchblade within the meaning of the statute. For example, in the 2008 case of People v. Angel R., the Court of Appeals examined a conviction over a pocketknife that, as originally manufactured, had a hole in the back of the blade that prevented it from flicking open. The trial court found, however, that the knife had been modified or damaged, and the resistance mechanism did not function so that the knife would open with a flick of the wrist. Despite the original design of the knife, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction.
Concealed Knives, Dirks, and Daggers - Penal Code § 12020
In California
Cane Swords and other Disguised Blades - Penal Code § 20200 et seq
Any knife or blade that is disguised so as to not look like a weapon is also illegal in California
Possession of Knives on School Grounds - Penal Code § 626.10
It is illegal for any person to bring or possess "any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, [or] razor with an unguarded blade . . . upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12 . . ." The law with regard to college campuses is similar, but less restrictive. Subsection (b) of the statute provides that it is illegal for any person to bring or possess "any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or knife having a fixed blade longer than 2 1/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any [college or university]."
Brandishing Knives - Penal Code § 417
In California
Local Ordinances - Here's Where the Law Gets Messy
If the laws above seem confusing, as the saying goes, "you ain't seen nothin' yet." Local ordinances vary from city to city, and county to county. Worse, California
For example, in the City of Los Angeles Los Angeles County
It gets worse. Los Angeles Code section 55.01 also makes it illegal to carry any weapon concealed on one's person. As such, in Los Angeles
Interestingly, the Courts have held that the Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles
What is even more interesting is that other, more recent cases completely contradict the decision in People v. Bass. In the 1985 case of People v. Gerardoi, the defendant was charged with violating a local law of the City of Commerce that is nearly identical to the Los Angeles local law prohibiting carrying blades over 3". On appeal, the defendant cited the Bass case, arguing that the city code was invalid. The Gerardoi court rejected the holding of Bass, and found that the city code was valid.
depending on how and where you carry them, and where you are in California California
Ride safe, and stay legal. If either of these fail, call me!
ABOUT SY NAZIF, ESQ.
Sy Nazif is a life-long motorcyclist and an attorney who specializes in biker’s rights and representing motorcycle accident victims in California San Francisco
1-888-5-RIDERZ
This article is written for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Sec. 20.10 – Weapons - Possession in Public - Prohibited
No person shall be or appear in any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or any public place or place open to public view while carrying upon his person, or having in his immediate possession, any dangerous or deadly weapon. This section shall not be construed to duplicate prohibitions of California state statute, or to prohibit the possession of weapons expressly authorized by California state statute.
↧
↧
State Knife Possession Laws: Know your Rights Infographic
OFF THE WIRE
![state-knife-possession-laws-know-your-rights-infographic]( "state-knife-possession-laws-know-your-rights-infographic")
↧
USA - Quick summary of knife laws
OFF THE WIRE
by Carl Donath
After following rec.knives for a while, it became obvious that a quick summary of knife laws would be handy. Here's what little I've been able to glean from my reading.
My goal is to find the clear portion of what is flat-out legal and easily summarized. I realize most states confuse the issue unmercifully; I'll let others figure out how to push the limits.
WARNING: This document is created from hearsay and whatever laws I could find. For legal advice, ask a lawyer. I could be lying. I only provide this to try to slightly improve the general lack of information on this subject. YOU are responsible for your own actions. If you don't know exactly what the laws are for any state or locale you are in, GO FIND OUT. (http://www.ncsl.org/public/sitesleg.htm is a good start, containing pointers to all state legislative sites.) I haven't updated this for a while, so consider it a cursory guide.
Use this as guidance: kids have been suspended for mere posession of nail clippers.
Canada
Airlines
Summary: No knives or sharp instruments of anykind.
by Carl Donath
After following rec.knives for a while, it became obvious that a quick summary of knife laws would be handy. Here's what little I've been able to glean from my reading.
My goal is to find the clear portion of what is flat-out legal and easily summarized. I realize most states confuse the issue unmercifully; I'll let others figure out how to push the limits.
WARNING: This document is created from hearsay and whatever laws I could find. For legal advice, ask a lawyer. I could be lying. I only provide this to try to slightly improve the general lack of information on this subject. YOU are responsible for your own actions. If you don't know exactly what the laws are for any state or locale you are in, GO FIND OUT. (http://www.ncsl.org/public/sitesleg.htm is a good start, containing pointers to all state legislative sites.) I haven't updated this for a while, so consider it a cursory guide.
Explaination
State (hyperlink goes to detailed explaination)- Summary:
- Max length:
- Specifically illegal:
- Relevant laws:
- Quirks:
- Local restrictions:
Basically, I want to answer the question "I'm flying to state X tomorrow, so which knife can I take?"
Size limit, measured the most unpleasant way possible. Some may permit longer in certain cases, but I won't suggest anything longer if it's in a gray area.
Specific styles which are explicitly forbidden.
Switchblade = Push a button/lever, it does the rest.
Gravity knives = Opened by gravity or centrifigual force. Butterfly knives (balisongs) included.
A quick pointer to roughly where the relevant laws are (ex. Penal Code 642)
Dark humor points (ex: a 1" lockback in a pocket is illegal, but a 15" Bowie swinging free is ok)
City/county restrictions.
Use this as guidance: kids have been suspended for mere posession of nail clippers.
US Knife Law Summary
- Ballistic knives (automatic blade throwers) are prohibited.
- Switchbladesmay not be transported/mailed across state lines unless the recipient intends to use it for military use.
- Possessing a knife in a federal facility is prohibited unless it is a pocket knife with blade under 2.5".
State Knife Law Summaries
Arizona- Summary: Generally clear. Illegal to carry "deadly weapon, (except a pocket knife) concealed."
- Max length: None apparent.
- Relevant laws: ARS book
- Summary: Anything capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon is illegal. All concealed knives are a felony (except non locking folders).
- Max length: chaotic
- Specifically illegal: Switchblades, gravity knives, exotic conceal methods (pen, lipstick, whatever)
- Relevant laws: PC 653K, PC 12020(24), California Laws, Commentary (apparently removed - someone know where?)
- Note that interpretations by cops and judges are wildly varied. Police have actually told law-abiding citizens to break the concealment laws, and a judge has deemed a blunt-point knife (Spyderco Mariner) a stabbing weapon.
- Quirks: Pens may be illegal (potential stabbing weapon).
- Local restrictions:
- Los Angeles
- Three inch limit for open carry without a good explanation.
- Summary: Sounds normal.
- Max length: Cutting edge under 4 inches
- Switchblades: Are legal to carry with a Dangerous Weapons Permit (DWP) only. Good luck trying to find a police station that has an application.
- Gravity knives: Same
- Relevant laws:
- Local restrictions: Some police chiefs don't want to give out DWP's
- Summary: A "common pocketknife" is OK. All "concealed weapons" (knives included) require a license.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Relevant laws: Chapter 790
- Local restrictions:
- Atlanta: A blade over 3" that LOCKS is illegal.
- Summary: Generally OK.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Specifically illegal: automatics & throwing stars.
- Relevant laws: Statutes mentioning "knife"
- Summary: OK for "normal" knives. Don't try to conceal any bowie, dirk, switchblade or butcher knife.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Specifically illegal: none apparent.
- Relevant laws: 97-37-*
- Quirks: Threatening actions with a knife in the presence of less than three people may be acceptable.
- Summary: any folder 4" or less is OK.
- Max length: 4"
- Relevant laws: State Laws (search for "knife")
- Summary: "Penknives" are OK. Anything else is borderline illegal and may require a concealed weapon permit.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Relevant laws: MD Statues Crimes and Punishments § 36, § 36A-O
- Quirks: You may carry a "weapon as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger", but it's up to a tribunal to decide the reasonableness/appropriateness of posession.
- Local restrictions:
- Cecil, Anne Arundel, Talbot, Harford, Caroline, Prince George's, Montgomery, St. Mary's, Washington, Worcester, Kent, and Baltimore Counties have special prohibitions regarding children under 18 carrying knives. See § 36(a)(3).
- Summary: Nothing over 3.5"
- Max length: 3.5"
- A longer blade may be legal, but it's subject post-fact to a judge's decision.
- Relevant laws: Statutes mentioning "knife"
- Statutes may refer only to concealed knives.
- Quirks:
- A "knife" is defined as having a blade over 3.5". A pocketknife under 3.5" is not a knife.
- Local restrictions:
- Linconln
- Switchblades are illegal.
- Summary: General folders OK. Single-edged fixed blades may be.
- Max length: Under 18 may not possess knife with 5" or longer blade, or 10" or longer overall. No other apparent limitation.
- Specifically illegal: gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, or ballistic knife "without any explainable lawful purpose" (i.e. an ill-defined exemption). Manufacturers and sellers are not exempt.
- Relevant laws: 2C:39-3.e 2C:39-9.d 2C:39-9.1 (Statutes, search for "knife" or "knives")
- Summary: If it looks like a weapon, it's illegal.
- Max length: 6" (?)
- Specifically illegal: Switchblades and gravity knives unless hunting or fishing with permit
- Relevant laws: Penal law
- Local restrictions:
- New York City
- Must be under 4"
- Summary: Generally OK.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Specifically illegal: switchblades, belt-buckle knives
- Relevant laws: NRS 202
- Specifically illegal: switchblade, springblade knife, gravity (butterfly) knife, or similar weapon;
- Relevant laws: Search Statutes for "knife"
- Summary: 3" or less OK. Don't posess anything "designed to cut and stab another".
- Max length: 3" measured from where the handle ends, not where the sharpened edge begins.
- Specifically illegal:
- Posession of a dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword-in-cane, bowie knife, or other similar weapon designed to cut and stab another.
- Concealed carry upon one's person of the above-mentioned instruments or weapons, or any razor, or knife of any description having a blade of more than 3".
- Relevant laws: Title 11 Criminal Offenses § 11-47-42
- Quirks: Children under 18 may purchase the above weapons with written parental permission.
- Summary: Folders under 4" are OK.
- Max length: 4"
- Specifically illegal: Switchblades, gravity knives (probably)
- Quirks: Fixed blades are probably a no-no.
- Summary: Folders under 5.5" OK.
- Max length: 5.5"
- Specifically illegal: Switchblade, throwing knives, daggers (in general), bowie knives, swords and spears.
- Relevant laws: Penal Code 46
- Quirks: The one state people associate with Bowie knives explicitly forbids them.
- Summary: Don't conceal a dirk or bowie knife. Don't take a dangerous weapon (esp. bowie knife or dagger) to church.
- Max length: None apparent.
- Specifically illegal: Switchblades.
- Relevant laws: 18.2-308, search statutes for knife or knives.
- Quirks: 3.1-370: your knife must be cleaned daily.
- Summary: Anything over 3" is in a gray area.
- Max length: 3"
- Specifically illegal: switchblade, springblade knife, gravity (butterfly) knife, concealed dagger/dirk
- Relevant laws: Statutes mentioning "knife"
- Relevant laws: 134.71 (1)(a)9, 134.71 (1)(g)1, 134.71 (1)(h)1 (relating to pawn brokers), 941.24 (switchblades)
Canada
- Summary: Careful; the country is getting antsy about weapons.
- Specifically illegal: a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife.
- Relevant laws: Annual Statutes Of Canada, 1995 Chapter 39 (Bill C-68)
Airlines
Summary: No knives or sharp instruments of anykind.
↧
Sacramento "City" California Knife Ordinance 2012 ( Knife Laws )
OFF THE WIRE
NOTE - I am NOT a lawyer and this post is for informational purposes only. If you need real legal advice on this matter, please contact a criminal law attorney.
Sacramento "City" California Knife Ordinance 2012 ( Knife Laws ) - Published on Oct 30, 2012
City of Sacramento California is in Sacramento County, so abide by its Ordinances as well as California Penal codes.
This talks about the City of Sacramento California's, knife Ordinances that's city not county. Okay, so there seems to be a few, so please read
carefully.
In title 9, Public Peace, Morals & Welfare, there is Chapter 9.32, Weapons & Explosives. within that, Article I, In General. Within that there is Sec 9.32.010, "Dangerous or deadly weapon" defined. It states the term "dangerous or deadly weapon" includes, but is not limited to, any dirk or dagger; any knife with a blade 3 inches or more in length; any snap blade, spring blade or push button knife, regardless of the length of the blade; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle; any dangerous or deadly weapon within the meaning of any law of this state restricting the use thereof; any cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapon or device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm & any firearm other than one carried pursuant to a valid permit, issued by a duly authorized governmental authority, or any ordinary rifle or shotgun lawfully carried for purposes of hunting or other lawful sport.
Penal code 16470 states, as used in this part, dirk or dagger means a knife or other instrument with or without a hand guard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. A non locking folding knife, a folding knife that is not prohibited by Sec 21510, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death only if the blade of the knife is exposed & locked into position.
Sec 9.32.060, Sale of push button or spring blade knives. It states, it is unlawful for any person to sell or give to anyone in the city any push button or spring blade knife.
Sec 9.32.040, Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to loiter about place where intoxicating beverages sold or other place of public resort. It states. It is unlawful for any person who has concealed upon his or her person any dangerous or deadly weapon to loiter about any place where intoxicating liquors are sold or any other place of public resort.
Sec 9.32.020, Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to hide, loiter, etc., in public place or on premises of another or wander from place to place. It states. It is unlawful for any person, while carrying concealed upon his or her person any dangerous or deadly weapon, to loaf or loiter upon any public street, sidewalk or alley or to wander about from place to place with no lawful business thereby to perform, or to hide, lurk or loiter upon or about the premises of another.
Sec 9.32.030 Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to engage in fight, disorderly conduct, etc., in public place or on premises of another. It states. It is unlawful for any person who has concealed upon his or her person or who has in his or her immediate physical possession any dangerous or deadly weapon to engage in any fight or to participate in any other rough or disorderly conduct upon any public place or way or upon the premises of another.
In Sec 9.32.050, Dangerous or deadly weapons prohibited in cars. It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession, in any automobile, any dangerous or deadly weapon, but this restriction shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment carried in good faith for uses of honest work, trade or business or for the purpose of legitimate sport or recreation.
In Title 8, Health & Safety there is, Chapter 8.08, called. Social Nuisance Code, within that Sec 8.08.080, Generally it states, it is declared a public nuisance & a violation of this code for any person, firm or corporation, whether owner, lessee, sublessor, sublessee or occupant of any premises in this city to permit those premises to be used in such a manner that any one or more of the activities described in the following subsections are found to occur repeatedly thereon. in sub section. F. The firing of gunshots or brandishing of weapons as defined by Penal Code Sec 12020 by a resident, or by a guest of a resident.
NOTE - I am NOT a lawyer and this post is for informational purposes only. If you need real legal advice on this matter, please contact a criminal law attorney.
Sacramento "City" California Knife Ordinance 2012 ( Knife Laws ) - Published on Oct 30, 2012
City of Sacramento California is in Sacramento County, so abide by its Ordinances as well as California Penal codes.
This talks about the City of Sacramento California's, knife Ordinances that's city not county. Okay, so there seems to be a few, so please read
carefully.
In title 9, Public Peace, Morals & Welfare, there is Chapter 9.32, Weapons & Explosives. within that, Article I, In General. Within that there is Sec 9.32.010, "Dangerous or deadly weapon" defined. It states the term "dangerous or deadly weapon" includes, but is not limited to, any dirk or dagger; any knife with a blade 3 inches or more in length; any snap blade, spring blade or push button knife, regardless of the length of the blade; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle; any dangerous or deadly weapon within the meaning of any law of this state restricting the use thereof; any cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapon or device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm & any firearm other than one carried pursuant to a valid permit, issued by a duly authorized governmental authority, or any ordinary rifle or shotgun lawfully carried for purposes of hunting or other lawful sport.
Penal code 16470 states, as used in this part, dirk or dagger means a knife or other instrument with or without a hand guard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. A non locking folding knife, a folding knife that is not prohibited by Sec 21510, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death only if the blade of the knife is exposed & locked into position.
Sec 9.32.060, Sale of push button or spring blade knives. It states, it is unlawful for any person to sell or give to anyone in the city any push button or spring blade knife.
Sec 9.32.040, Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to loiter about place where intoxicating beverages sold or other place of public resort. It states. It is unlawful for any person who has concealed upon his or her person any dangerous or deadly weapon to loiter about any place where intoxicating liquors are sold or any other place of public resort.
Sec 9.32.020, Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to hide, loiter, etc., in public place or on premises of another or wander from place to place. It states. It is unlawful for any person, while carrying concealed upon his or her person any dangerous or deadly weapon, to loaf or loiter upon any public street, sidewalk or alley or to wander about from place to place with no lawful business thereby to perform, or to hide, lurk or loiter upon or about the premises of another.
Sec 9.32.030 Person carrying concealed dangerous or deadly weapon . Not to engage in fight, disorderly conduct, etc., in public place or on premises of another. It states. It is unlawful for any person who has concealed upon his or her person or who has in his or her immediate physical possession any dangerous or deadly weapon to engage in any fight or to participate in any other rough or disorderly conduct upon any public place or way or upon the premises of another.
In Sec 9.32.050, Dangerous or deadly weapons prohibited in cars. It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession, in any automobile, any dangerous or deadly weapon, but this restriction shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment carried in good faith for uses of honest work, trade or business or for the purpose of legitimate sport or recreation.
In Title 8, Health & Safety there is, Chapter 8.08, called. Social Nuisance Code, within that Sec 8.08.080, Generally it states, it is declared a public nuisance & a violation of this code for any person, firm or corporation, whether owner, lessee, sublessor, sublessee or occupant of any premises in this city to permit those premises to be used in such a manner that any one or more of the activities described in the following subsections are found to occur repeatedly thereon. in sub section. F. The firing of gunshots or brandishing of weapons as defined by Penal Code Sec 12020 by a resident, or by a guest of a resident.
↧
DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PACKIN' STEEL
OFF THE WIRE
SECTION FIVE: DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PACKIN' STEEL
First thing: don't get nervous. If you've read this, you're not going to be breaking any knife laws. California's knife laws are actually pretty decent, better than most states (even the shall-issue gun permit ones). If you're nervous, the cop will read that, and he won't know what to think - but the conversation WILL go downhill.
If you're walking past a cop with a legally concealed knife, DO NOT "pat the knife" to make sure the concealment is still effective. That's the number one way cops spot people packing guns illegally. They'll think that's what you're doing. The resulting conversation won't be pleasant.
If there's any chance at all that the guy is gonna search you, politely declare that you're carrying a "pocketknife legal under state law". Got that? Tell him where it is on you, let him take control of it. DO NOT SCARE THE DUDE WITH THE BADGE AND GUN. Don't reach for nuthin' unless he tells you to do so. At all times, act like this is just a normal business transaction.
So what if he/she thinks your piece(s) is/are illegal?
You explain that California knife law has changed a bunch of times starting in 1997 and twice more that you know of, so you're not terribly surprised there's confusion. Calmly explain as much of the relevant Penal Codes as you can recall...if you're into big folders, PC653k and the bit in 12020 about "not readily available if concealed in the closed position" is a start. If he ain't buying, calmly ask for a supervisor.
If he wants to confiscate your cutlery, ASK FOR A RECEIPT. If he says anything about "that'll mean you'll get a ticket too, and/or an arrest", stand your ground and calmly ask for a receipt. He's bluffing because he wants your knife. Sorry if any cops reading this are offended, but it happens - I've met enough people it's happened to to be a believer, although it hasn't happened to me. If he just plain takes it without a receipt, get his badge number and/or car number (if the latter is all you can get, record the TIME). If it was a city or county cop, make a THEFT complaint in detail with your nearest California Highway Patrol station (they investigate local wrongdoing). If it was CHP, hmmm...complain to the CHP supervisors maybe, or the Sheriff, but for God's sake don't let 'em off clean.
IF YOU HAD TO THREATEN AN ASSAILANT WITH A DRAWN BLADE:
You have two choices: get the hell out of there ASAP and travel far and fast, because odds are, crooks that get chased off by an armed citizen love to file a "he threatened me" complaint and bust YOU. Bug out. NOTE: we're talking about a situation in which you haven't committed a crime, and since no actual violence occurred neither did anybody else. So "fleeing the scene" rules don't really apply. And you also don't want the SOB coming back with reinforcements and/or heavy artillery. Time to go!
If that's not possible, because the crook knows where you are or who you are (or have your car's license plate number), jump on 911 and report an attempted crime, pronto. There are too many lazy cops that just believe the first complaint. Make yours first. You'll probably have one major advantage: the crook will have a violent record and you won't.
IF YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY DRAW BLOOD IN DEFENSE:
When the cops show up, there are only three things you should say: I was in fear of my life, I'm too shaken up to talk, I want a lawyer. (If there are witnesses you know of, point them out to the cops and tell the cops to talk to them.)
Bernie Goetz didn't do that. He was furious at the four attempted muggers, he made that anger plain in a long discussion down at the station, and he ended up getting charged with murder and attempted murder when it was absolutely clear-cut self defense.
When a cop gets involved in a shooting, they understand that immediately afterwards, he's too shaken to explain clearly what happened. So most departments give him 24 hours to settle down before talking to him. But if you're involved in lethal force, some will take advantage of your rattled state to pry garbled statements out of you. You HAVE the right to remain silent. Use it.
I'm assuming here that if you drew or used steel, you had a damned good reason. That's a subject for a much more detailed (not to mention PROFESSIONAL) treatment - see Introduction for some reference works.
(a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison:
(1) Any firearm.
(2) Any deadly weapon described in Section 653k or 12020.
(3) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the blade of which is fixed or is capable of being fixed in an unguarded position by the use of one or two hands.
...
Thus no knives longer than 4" in state and public buildings. Exact definition of the state or local public meeting and open to public buildings can be found in 171.b(c). In short, those are state or local government owned or leased buildings such as courts, police stations, city halls, etc. Meetings mean wherever those officials get together to conduct regular or irregular work, e.g. city council meetings.
Disclaimer - I am not a lawyer. The following information is for reference only. The discussion and interpretation is my own. So, please bear that in mind. If you need qualified consultation or legal advice, please contact a licensed criminal attorney and/or local Sheriff's office. The discussion is regarding the lawful knife carry, nothing else!
Like I said above, the laws are complicated. In US to make things more complicated we have Federal and State laws, and in addition to that local counties and cities can have their own laws. Which particular law takes priority for any given issue depends on the laws and I guess particular case as well. In relation to knife carry, the state law is generally more or less universal, however, particular cities and towns have their own, as usual more strict laws regarding the knife possession and carry. I'll discuss that below, but as a rule of thumb, just because California state law allows particular blade doesn't mean it is legal in all places. Always check your local town/city penal code. E.g. San Francisco and Oakland have 3" blade length limit, which isn't in the state law. Same is true for Los Angeles.
One more thing to keep in mind is that not all the law enforcement officers know penal code all that well. For starters, if you get asked whether or not you have a knife on you, tell the truth, but better yet, state that you have a blade legal under California law. You may get some problems, because the officer thinks you have violated the law. In other words, LEO doesn't know the knife carry law in details. In that case, better not to argue the point, calmly explain they you believe you're not in violation of the law, that your knife is legal under California law, including citing penal codes we're discussing here and either ask the officer to contact superiors or get the receipt if he/she is confiscating the knife and later contact the department. Aggravating the situation will most likely result in additional charges against you and possible arrest. However, if your piece gets confiscated you must be issued a receipt. If the officer is refusing to do so(i.e. issue a receipt) or threatening with additional problems he's in the wrong, not you. Without confrontation, ask for the receipt and if he(or she) still refuses, write down his/her badge number, name, time and place where the incident took place and report it to the nearest police station. For more details on dealing with law enforcement and various situations involving knives including their use please visit Jim March's excellent article California Knife Laws: A Comprehensive Guide.
Knife Carry Related Laws
- California penal code has two main sections interesting to us in this discussion: 653K and 12020. 653Kbelongs to the section 639-653.2 - Of Other And Miscellaneous Offenses and 12020 belongs to the section 12020-12040 - Unlawful Carrying and Possession of Weapons, that is in the link provided at the beginning of this paragraph. Penal code 653K defines what is a legal pocket knife and what is a switchblade and gravity or ballisong knife. Pocket knives, most likely that'd be a folding knife are legal, while switchblades, gravity and ballisong knives are illegal. Penal code 12020 deals with the street carry laws. There are other penal codes dealing with knife carry in specific places. Those are: penal code 626.10 which deals with the knife school carry rules. There is also penal code 171.b which deals with the knives in public buildings.Simply put, the law defines what is illegal, so if your knife and carry isn't what the law defines as illegal you should be fine. Once again, keep in mind the local laws. Details below.
Very Short Summary
State California allows for concealed carry of the folding knives and there is no limit to the blade length. As long as the knife is not banned by PC 653K it is legal. 653K does not make Assisted Openers(AO) illegal. However, depending on the particular AO mechanism and other details some AOs may fall under switchblade category. Kershaw Speed Safe is not one of them, it is perfectly legal, details further down. As far as the state law goes, fixed blades must be carried openly, in the sheath, on the waist. I can't find where does the law ban either double edged blades or dirks and daggers. As the wording is, those are ok for open carry. No knives longer than 2.5"in the school, but folders are ok in the Universities and Colleges. Unless, they were banned by local authorities. No knives longer than 4" in public buildings or buildings open to public meetings, e.g. courts, city halls, police stations, city council meetings, etc.
Penal Codes
653K
- Defines legal and illegal pocket knives. Full text of the penal code 653K. The most interesting part of the penal code is the following definition of the switchblade knives:For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever.
Basically, this section outlaws switchblades, or automatic knives, plus ballisongs, or butterfly knives. Also whatever else can be opened with the flick of the wrist. However, there are lots of legitimate knives that also fall under that category. Next section clarifies that part:
"Switchblade knife" does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.
The paragraph above was added to the PC 653K thanks to SB 274, or Karnette amendment(California state Senator Betty Karnette of the 27th district introduced it in 2002). This is an important clause that makes legal regular folding knives which can be opened with one hand. The knife must have some sort of thumbstud to move the blade into the open position and has to have some sort of mechanism to keep it in the closed position and provide some sort of resistance to overcome when opening it. For the record, a thumbstud doesn't necessarily has to be affixed to the side(s) of the blade, but can be on the top like on Kershaw Shallots.
Kershaw Speed Safe AO - The Karnette amendment is also what makes Kershaw Speed Safe assisted opening knives perfectly legal in California. Speed Safe satisfies 3 conditions instead of minimum two, not to be a switchblade, i.e. it has a thumbstud on the blade, which the knife operator has to push to open the knife, second Kershaw AOs have a detent, and just those two would be enough to comply switchblade law, but the torsion bar of the Speed Safe mechanism also forces the blade to stay in closed position, i.e. provides bias towards locked position.
Blade Length Limit - As you can see there is no length limit ever mentioned in this code. So, normally unless there is a specific law restricting the blade length in any given local area, you can carry folding knives of pretty much any length, not outlawed in 653K.
12020
- Deals with knife carry and prohibits several types of knives. Code 12020 is way too long to cite it here completely, thus only the most relevant parts here. For The reference - full text of the penal code 12020.12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
This part is pretty clear. You violate any of the sections of this law and you're in jail for a year. Now, let's check the interesting details.
Section one prohibits and bans several different types of knives, I'll provide only relevant fragments of it:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses ... any ballistic knife, ... any belt buckle knife, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, ...
So, not only you can't carry, but you can't even posses any of the listed in above. Some of it makes sense, some not so much. THe same section bans slungshots, but slingshots are ok. Yup, that's right, no slingies in California. Half of those things are most likely unknown to general public and probably knife enthusiastas as well. For your information, Shurikens are also included in this section. They are not exactly knives, but still edged weapons. Ok, moving on.
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses ... any ballistic knife, ... any belt buckle knife, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, ...
So, not only you can't carry, but you can't even posses any of the listed in above. Some of it makes sense, some not so much. THe same section bans slungshots, but slingshots are ok. Yup, that's right, no slingies in California. Half of those things are most likely unknown to general public and probably knife enthusiastas as well. For your information, Shurikens are also included in this section. They are not exactly knives, but still edged weapons. Ok, moving on.
(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger. - We'll go through definitions later, but this one says no toconcealed dirks and daggers. By the way as this one is, it doesn't prohibit them, just states they have to be carried openly, on the waist as we'll see later in open carry definition. The only thing is, open carry definition is stuck somewhere in large-capacity magazine definition, as subdivision d. What do those two have in common I don't know. Sad part is that dirk (and dagger) definition in the law, see #24 in 12020 definitions, covers pretty much anything, because ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death applies to the screwdrives and pens just as well. And those things do get used in crimes as a stabbing weapon.
171.b
- Tells you what you can and can not carry in public buildings and meetings. For the reference - Full Text Of Penal Code 171. 171.b starts with:(a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison:
(1) Any firearm.
(2) Any deadly weapon described in Section 653k or 12020.
(3) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the blade of which is fixed or is capable of being fixed in an unguarded position by the use of one or two hands.
...
Thus no knives longer than 4" in state and public buildings. Exact definition of the state or local public meeting and open to public buildings can be found in 171.b(c). In short, those are state or local government owned or leased buildings such as courts, police stations, city halls, etc. Meetings mean wherever those officials get together to conduct regular or irregular work, e.g. city council meetings.
626.10
- As stated above defines knives school carry. Again, this one is way too big. For the reference - full text of the penal code 626.10. Subdivision a prohibits you can not bring a fixed blade knife longer than 2.5", a folding knife, ice pick, etc to the school. Subdivision b is pretty much identical, applies to universities and colleges, same restrictions, but folding knives are ok. Subdivisions c, d, e, f make exemptions. E.g. Knives for food preparation and other work places are ok. Students can bring knives if directed so by school or university employees. Subdivision a is below:(a) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, a razor with an unguarded blade, a taser, or a stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5, any instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO 2 pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.
↧
↧
CA - Do you know what a "slungshot" is?
OFF THE WIRE
Do you know what a "slungshot" is? It is the legal term for that braided decoration that many of you have hanging from your handlebars. A few nights ago, one of our BOLT members was stopped in Loomis for speeding. It was a pretty pleasant stop until the Placer County Deputy Sheriff noticed all of the "support" stickers. The Deputy took a harder look at the bike and decided to arrest our BOLT Brother for possession of a slungshot. It is a felony. His bail was set at $15,000 and his bike was impounded. He is out and the bike is back. I will not be posting any names of any individual as this is a felony and this of course is social media. But I will say, that with all of the support stickers (that almost anyone can get); the one sticker the cop should had paid attention to was BOLT.
Carrying or attempting to use a slungshot is a felony in the states of California,[2] Oklahoma,[3] Massachusetts,[4] and Michigan.[5] It is a gross misdemeanor in the State of Nevada and Washington State.[6] In Minnesota it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the circumstances.[7] As of 2010, in the state of New Hampshire, possession of a slung shot carries a misdemeanor penalty. [8]
![]()
A slungshot is a maritime tool consisting of a weight, or "shot," affixed to the end of a long cord often by being wound into the center of a knot called a "monkey's fist." It is used to cast line from one location to another, often mooring line. The cord end is tied to the heavier line and the weighted end of the slungshot is thrown across the intervening space where a person picks it up and pulls the line across.
Abraham Lincoln's most notable criminal trial occurred in 1858 when he successfully defended "Duff" Armstrong, on a charge of killing another with a slung shot. They were widely used by criminals and street gang members in the 19th century as they had the advantage of being easy to make, silent, and very effective, particularly against an unsuspecting opponent. This gave them a dubious reputation, similar to that of switchbladeknives in the 1950s, and they were outlawed in many jurisdictions. The use as a criminal weapon continued at least up until the early 1920s.[1]
Carrying or attempting to use a slungshot is a felony in the states of California,[2] Oklahoma,[3] Massachusetts,[4] and Michigan.[5] It is a gross misdemeanor in the State of Nevada and Washington State.[6] In Minnesota it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the circumstances.[7] As of 2010, in the state of New Hampshire, possession of a slung shot carries a misdemeanor penalty. [8]
According to Robert van Gulik, the common use of "loaded sleeves" facilitated an unexpected escape for a group of foreign nuns threatened by a mob during an anti-Western uprising in China. The cornered nuns, believing they were going to be killed, reportedly raised their hands to pray. The people standing nearest incorrectly identified the bulky objects in the upraised folds of cloth, interpreting them to be dangerous Loaded Sleeves. They backed away, opening a path through the crowd, and the nuns escaped. The bulky objects were, in fact, their breviaries, which the nuns habitually carried in the sleeves of their robes.
"Egg Dealer Holdup". The New York Times (New York). September 23, 1921. California Penal Code section 12020, subdivision (a)(1) 21 O.S. § 1282 (2012) http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10 MCL 750.224 Nevada Revised Statutes 202.350 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.66&year=2013
Do you know what a "slungshot" is? It is the legal term for that braided decoration that many of you have hanging from your handlebars. A few nights ago, one of our BOLT members was stopped in Loomis for speeding. It was a pretty pleasant stop until the Placer County Deputy Sheriff noticed all of the "support" stickers. The Deputy took a harder look at the bike and decided to arrest our BOLT Brother for possession of a slungshot. It is a felony. His bail was set at $15,000 and his bike was impounded. He is out and the bike is back. I will not be posting any names of any individual as this is a felony and this of course is social media. But I will say, that with all of the support stickers (that almost anyone can get); the one sticker the cop should had paid attention to was BOLT.
Carrying or attempting to use a slungshot is a felony in the states of California,[2] Oklahoma,[3] Massachusetts,[4] and Michigan.[5] It is a gross misdemeanor in the State of Nevada and Washington State.[6] In Minnesota it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the circumstances.[7] As of 2010, in the state of New Hampshire, possession of a slung shot carries a misdemeanor penalty. [8]
Slungshot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with slingshot.
Analog of slungshot.
Contents
As a weapon
The slungshot was often used as a civilian or improvised weapon; however, the rope length became much shorter when used as a weapon. The cord is tied around the wrist, and the weight is carried in the hand or the pocket of the user. A slungshot may be swung in a manner similar to that of a flail.Abraham Lincoln's most notable criminal trial occurred in 1858 when he successfully defended "Duff" Armstrong, on a charge of killing another with a slung shot. They were widely used by criminals and street gang members in the 19th century as they had the advantage of being easy to make, silent, and very effective, particularly against an unsuspecting opponent. This gave them a dubious reputation, similar to that of switchbladeknives in the 1950s, and they were outlawed in many jurisdictions. The use as a criminal weapon continued at least up until the early 1920s.[1]
Carrying or attempting to use a slungshot is a felony in the states of California,[2] Oklahoma,[3] Massachusetts,[4] and Michigan.[5] It is a gross misdemeanor in the State of Nevada and Washington State.[6] In Minnesota it can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the circumstances.[7] As of 2010, in the state of New Hampshire, possession of a slung shot carries a misdemeanor penalty. [8]
Other names
They were also known as "slingshots," but had nothing to do with what is now known as a slingshot. Many jurisdictions' laws against "slingshots" were actually meant to refer to slungshots.Worldwide
Slungshots were also used in China and Japan, under other names. A variant called "loaded sleeves," consisted of weights concealed in long, flowing sleeves.According to Robert van Gulik, the common use of "loaded sleeves" facilitated an unexpected escape for a group of foreign nuns threatened by a mob during an anti-Western uprising in China. The cornered nuns, believing they were going to be killed, reportedly raised their hands to pray. The people standing nearest incorrectly identified the bulky objects in the upraised folds of cloth, interpreting them to be dangerous Loaded Sleeves. They backed away, opening a path through the crowd, and the nuns escaped. The bulky objects were, in fact, their breviaries, which the nuns habitually carried in the sleeves of their robes.
References
 | This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (September 2009) |
Further reading
- Stone, George Cameron. A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor, Jack Brussel, New York, N.Y., 1961, pg. 568.
- Van Gulik, Robert: The Red Pavilion, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, N.Y., 1961. (Discussion of the use of weights on chains in story text)
- Van Gulik, Robert: The Willow Pattern, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, N.Y., 1965. Loaded sleeves are explained in the afterword.
↧
Espinoza's Leather Story and Bios..
AFTER TALKING WITH FELLA`S AND LEARNING ABOUT THEM, THEY MAKE ALL THE CLUB CUTS// LET THEM MAKE YOURS, CHECK THEM OUT.... NUFF SAID....
JUST LET THE ESPINOSA`S, KNOW THAT YOU SAW IT HERE..
MLH&R
SCREWDRIVER
![]()
Philip,
JUST LET THE ESPINOSA`S, KNOW THAT YOU SAW IT HERE..
MLH&R
SCREWDRIVER
Philip,
It was a pleasure meeting you (electronically) and an honor to be on your show. Per you request I have enclosed both the REVOLUCION magazine article and the bio from our website which combined give some background and facts of our shop and history. Just below are the bios of each member in chronological order. Thank you once again for your interest in our business and the opportunity to reach out to your fans.
Regards,
Joe Espinoza
________ THE CAST________
Gilberto Espinoza, SR
Owner/Founder
Rides 2010 Street Glide Trike
Gilbert Espinoza JR
First Son - Works at Shop weekends and Events
Rides 2010 Fatboy
Joe Espinoza
Second Son - Works many evenings, weekends and shows/events
Rides 2000 Softail Duece
Eric Espinoza
Youngest - Works full time at Shop and all events/shows
Rides 2010 Street Bob
Revolucion Magazine Article
Gilberto, Joe, Gilbert Jr. and Eric Espinoza of Espinoza’s Leather tell their story: one of sacrifice and hard work that spreads over three generations.
The vest is sacred throughout the biker world and without saying a word it communicates who we are, where we come from and whom we ride with whether in a group or solo. When Gilberto Espinoza started making leather bracelets and belts after a farmer strike in 1971, he had no idea that it would eventually lead him, and later his three sons, down a path to becoming one of the industry’s most respected makers of biker vests and leathers. But the story of this family-run business goes far beyond leather hides and sewn-on patches. Their story is of one man making sacrifices for his family, only to have his family do the same in return to take care of him. This is the story of Gilberto Espinoza, a quiet and humble man, as told by his three sons, Joe, Gilbert Jr. and Eric.
How did you start making leather goods?
Joe
My dad left his home when he was only 8 years old. He made his way from his childhood home near central Mexico to Tijuana. After some diffucult years he made it into America where he started working as a meat cutter and that’s when he met my mom. My mother’s father was dabbling in belts and leather goods and my dad saw an opportunity to start his own business. He started out making berrets, key chains and bracelets with individual’s name stamped in them. We have pictures of a huge mountain of bracelets where people would come, pick one and we’d stamp in their name. The cost was one dollar and the stamp was free. That’s how my dad’s business first started in ’71.
Gilberto (The Father)
I started my business back in 1971. I was a meat cutter. One time the farmers went on strike and there was no more meat to cut. My father-in-law told me why don’t you go to the store get some leather, make some belts and wallets and sell them at the swap meet. While there I met a lot of bikers who would ask me to do little repairs and some other custom items. That’s how I first started working with bikers.
Joe
My Father started this business in the garage with a couple of wooden tables and a machine we still use today. My dad would be stamping out leather all day and my brother and I would paint the edges. My brother and I sacrificed every summer traveling to all the state fairs. There was one summer we had to work 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. to midnight on the weekends. We grew up in that world. We didn’t really see it as a bad thing. It’s just what we did. Little did we know, that 40 years later we’d have this huge retail place with customers from all over the world.
Gilbert Jr.
My dad’s first customers were at the La Mirada swap meet. A guy named Popeye introduced us to the biker scene. We started with only one table and a Dodge Charger. My parents would have to sit in the Charger because we didn’t have a canopy for shade. My dad would always say “I know it’s tough on you guys but in the end it will benefit you.” Sure enough my dad has proven that to be true.
Eric
I was the youngest so I was a little more spoiled and started at age 12. I wasn’t ready to run the business but I had a general knowledge of how things worked. Joe taught me how to measure so we helped each other. Now I’m here everyday taking care of the customers. People come from everywhere. We had a guy come down from Switzerland just to buy an Espinoza T-shirt. Over the years my dad has built a steady clientele. We offer the type of customization others can’t. We can take a basic vest and do whatever you want with it. You might have a small chest and a big belly, but we can make a vest that fits right. That’s what my dad offers to the people that no one else can.
When it comes to the Chicano-style riders, the style has always been clean cut with ironed pants and shirts and never looking grungy. We always presented our bikes and ourselves the right way. That’s how we were as Chicano men back in the day and as time progressed that’s how we still are. Chicano men tend to want the longer vest that is fitted and looking good. They don’t want to go and buy a tiny vest. Also we treat everyone as family and with respect no matter what background you come from.
Joe
As you can see it’s always been a family business so it doesn’t feel like work, just spending time with the family. Eric is 100% like my dad. He has that type of personality that makes people want to come in and talk to him for hours. He acts exactly how my dad does by spending a lot of time with customers, but now my dad gets on his case for doing the exact same thing! (laughs). Two years ago I tried to figure out how to launch a Web site for a mass market. You can’t. How do you show a 100% custom experience to a mass market? The way I try to appeal to the public is to explain why it’s worth it to take a ride here whether you’re in San Diego, San Francisco or other surrounding states. Whenever you’re in California, come on in. I’ve been trying to get the word out that to wear an Espinoza cut is to have something special. We must be doing something right because we realize it’s more than a business when my dad shows up to an event and a crowd surrounds him. They all want to say hi to my pops. That’s when you know it’s more than making cuts for riders. Funny part is, my dad hates crowds and usually tells me ‘Mijo get me a beer’. They love you, huh dad?
Gilberto
The people they love me (big laughs).
Does the family ride together also?
Eric
My dad stopped riding in 1991 until about 3 years ago when I started working full time for him. Watching a pack of bikes leave the shop everyday, I’d get so pissed off and say “I need a bike! I need a bike!” I kept telling my dad I need a co-signer. (laughs) He finally said OK. I bought a 2010 Dyna Street Bob. I guess I was watching too much Sons of Anarchy. (laughs) When my dad was there with me, he fell in love with a trike and bought it on the spot.
Joe
I went with them just for moral support and sat on a Softail. I bought it that same day also. Two months later my brother ( Gilbert Jr.) bought a motorcycle and eventually, his son Gilbert III, bought a bike–now all three generations ride.
Gilberto - Final Thought...Thank you all for your business.
ESPINOZAS LEATHER WEBSITE BIO
Starting in 1971 with the manufacturing of leather bracelets and barrettes, immigrant Gilberto Espinoza was determined to grow his small one man operation into a prosperous business.
Soon leather belts, chain wallets and purses made its way into the inventory. The result was growth warranting the opening of a formal manufacturing location. So the garage was returned to the family car and small but suitable shop was found in a strip mall in Rosemead.
In September of 1985 the first retail store was opened just two short blocks away from the first shop. Espinoza’s Leather Goods retail was born and the offering at the time was the same inventory of wallets and purses with some samplings of import products from Mexico.
That summer the first motorcycle jacket was made and Gilberto never looked back. Leather jackets, vests and chaps are his passion coupled with customer satisfaction.
In September of 1985 the first retail store was opened just two short blocks away from the first shop. Espinoza’s Leather Goods retail was born and the offering at the time was the same inventory of wallets and purses with some samplings of import products from Mexico.
That summer the first motorcycle jacket was made and Gilberto never looked back. Leather jackets, vests and chaps are his passion coupled with customer satisfaction.
↧
BABE OF THE DAY
↧