Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Saint Christopher in popular culture

2023-02-22T19:59:28Z

178.252.25.163: /* Music */ added a new reference

{{More citations needed|date=December 2008}}
'''[[Saint Christopher]]''', a 3rd-century Christian venerated by [[Roman Catholics]] and [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox Christians]], has been adapted to a number of settings in popular culture.

==Saint Christopher personifications, apparitions==

===Literature===
*''Saint Christopher'' was a play performed in 1609 in [[Yorkshire]] by Lord Cholmeley's Men which resulted in the group's trial in the [[Court of Star Chamber]].<ref>Wood, Ian. "[http://digital.library.leeds.ac.uk/488/ Pericles and the Simpsons]." [https://archive.org/details/lse-2006-whole-issue ''Leeds Studies in English'' 37] (2006): 441.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Syme|first1=Holger Schott|last2=Griffin|first2=Andrew|editor=Helen Ostovich|title=Locating the Queen's Men, 1583–1603: Material Practices and Conditions of Playing|year=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317103660|page=107}}</ref>
*''[[Saint Christopher (novel)]]'' is a novella set in the Middle Ages written in the 1890s by the Portuguese writer [[José Maria de Eça de Queirós]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Eça de Queirós|author-link=Eça de Queirós|others=Gregory Rabassa|title=Saint Christopher: A Novella|series=Adamaster|year=2015|publisher=Tagus Press at UMass Dartmouth|isbn=9781933227627}}</ref>
*In William Saroyan's novel ''[[The Human Comedy (novel)|The Human Comedy]]'', the saint appears symbolically as the character Big Chris. In one passage, Ulysses, a five-year-old boy, experiences a dream in which Big Chris carries him across a stream.
*Saint Christopher is the [[patron saint]] of the Saltee Islands in [[Airman (novel)|Airman]], a 2008 book by [[Eoin Colfer]].<ref name="airman132">{{Airman ref|132}}</ref>
* In James McKenzie's novel ''[[Janis and Saint Christopher]]'', Saint Christopher safely guides French explorers to the Australian mainland and becomes the [[patron saint]] of the city of Saint Christopher.<ref>{{cite book|last=McKenzie|first=James|title=Janis and Saint Christopher|year=2013|publisher=BookBaby|location=Portland, Oregon|isbn=9781483503639|page=239|url=https://www.amazon.com/Janis-and-Saint-Christopher-ebook/dp/B00BNFXWOM}}</ref>

===Film===
*In Robert Altman's 1978 science fiction film ''[[Quintet (film)|Quintet]]'', a Latin-speaking gambler named Saint Christopher rules over a future ice-age city.<ref>{{cite book | first=Lester D. | last=Friedman | title=Unspeakable images: ethnicity and the American cinema | publisher=University of Illinois Press |date=April 1991 | page=153}}</ref>
* In the 1996 [[World War II]] film ''[[The Ogre (1996 film)|The Ogre]]'' a recurring theme is the comparison of the main character, Abel, nicknamed "The Ogre", with a demoted saint, Saint Christopher. It begins with Abel praying to Saint Christopher to burn down his school. In the final scene, Abel rescues a boy from the Nazis by carrying him across a swamp.<ref>{{cite book|last=Halle|first=Randall|title=German Film After Germany: Toward a Transnational Aesthetic|date=June 26, 2008|publisher=University of Illinois Press|page=78}}</ref>
* In the 1980 film ''[[The Ninth Configuration (film)|The Ninth Configuration]]'' (also known as Twinkle, Twinkle, "Killer" Kane) based on the American novel written by [[William Peter Blatty]], a Saint Christopher's medal serves as a primary plot device. The film's protagonist Cutshaw who as a failed Astronaut has lost his faith, rejoices in what he considers proof of an afterlife when he finds the St. Christopher's medal he gave to a soldier with PTSD named Kane, who promised that if he should make it to the other side of eternity he would provide a sign for Cutshaw, and Cutshaw believes the St. Christopher's medal is that sign when he finds it in a military vehicle after Kane dies.
*In the 2019 Netflix series [[The Order (TV series)|The Order]], there is a mention of a werewolf clan called: “The Knights of Saint Christopher”.
*In the 2007 film [[Gone Baby gone]] a missing Catholic child is noted to wear a [[medallion]] depicting Saint Christopher, referred to as "The Medallion of Saint Christopher". When the child's killer is identified, the killer is wearing it.
===Music===
*In the second verse of the song ''The Risen Lord'' from his 1988 album ''[[Flying Colours (Chris de Burgh album)|Flying Colours]]'', singer [[Chris De Burgh]] sings a version of Saint Christopher's meeting with the Christ child at the river.
*[[Dennis DeYoung]] of the rock band [[Styx (band)|Styx]] wrote the song "Christopher, Mr. Christopher" for Styx's 1974 album ''[[Man of Miracles]]''.
*[[Tom Waits]] wrote the song "Hang on St. Christopher", released on the album ''[[Franks Wild Years]]'' in 1987, in which he implores Saint Christopher to watch over him as he pushes his hot-rod cars and motorcycles to their limits. Waits also mentions him on "[[Tom Traubert's Blues]]."
*The band [[Fosca (band)|Fosca]] released a song entitled "Letter to Saint Christopher" on their 2002 album ''[[Diary of an Antibody]]''. In it, the protagonist asks Saint Christopher if he will "ever reach point B", using the story of Christopher and the young child's journey across the river as a metaphor for moving on from an unhappy life.
*The New Jersey hard rock band ''Saraya'' on their 1989 self-titled debut album had the track ''St.Christopher Medal.'' Declaring a young persons concern of whom was there now to protect them through their travels now that ''St.Christopher'' was no longer a Saint''.''
*The chorus of the song ''Zed and Two Naughts'' by [[The Mars Volta]] references Saint Christopher.
*The artist [[Frank Turner]] wrote the song "St Christopher is Coming Home", released on his album [[Love Ire & Song|Love, Ire, and Song]] in 2009.
*[[Terri Hendrix]]'s title track of The Spiritual Kind album describes St. Christopher in a verse, noting that while his sainthood is seemingly in dispute, he is still a "guide for the spiritual kind".
*Saint Christopher is mentioned in the song 'Minor Character' by [[Lloyd Cole]] (& The Commotions) on his album '[[Easy Pieces]]'. (Saint Christopher Sunday / Otherwise uneventful).
*Saint Christopher is the subject of the song 'Meu Glorioso São Cristovão' by [[Jorge Ben]] and [[Gilberto Gil]] on their album '[[Gil e Jorge]]'.
*Saint Christopher is the name of a single and studio album by [[Peter Capaldi]] from [[Doctor Who]].
*Saint Christopher's legend is narrated in the song ''The Dog Headed Saint'' on the album of the same title by [[Oskar Nordbø]].

==Saint Christopher medals and likenesses==

===Literature===
*In Truman Capote's novella ''[[Breakfast at Tiffany's (novella)|Breakfast at Tiffany's]]'', the narrator gives Holly Golightly a St. Christopher's medal for Christmas, "[b]ut at least it came from Tiffany's."
*In Stephen King's novel ''[[The Green Mile (novel)|The Green Mile]]'', the protagonist John Coffey, a giant [[African-American]] with [[Healer (fantasy)|healing]] ability, is given a Saint Christopher medal after healing a woman. This scene was included within the 1999 [[The Green Mile (movie)|film adaptation]] of the book.
*In [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]'s ''[[The Canterbury Tales]]'', in the [[General Prologue]], the Knight's Yeoman is described as wearing "A Cristopher on his breast of silver sheen."
*In [[Barbara Kingsolver]]'s first novel, ''[[The Bean Trees]]'', a Guatemalan refugee, Esperanza, wears a Saint Christopher pendant and calls him the patron saint of refugees. She later gives the pendant to a three-year-old orphaned girl named Turtle.
*In the third Nikki Heat novel, ''Heat Rises'', Jameson Rook wears a St. Christopher medal that he is given by Faustino Velez Arango when he finds Nikki near the end.
*In Ken Kesey's novel ''[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]'', a scene depicts Indian Jenny searching for a misplaced St. Christopher medal.

===Film===
*In the 1957 movie ''[[The Spirit of St. Louis (film)|The Spirit of St. Louis]]'', (1957), Charles Lindbergh (played by James Stewart) is given a St. Christopher medal before his big flight, which he refuses to accept in order to save every unnecessary ounce of weight. His friend instead hides the medal in the aircraft, to make sure that the saint would be with him for the long and dangerous trip.
*In the 1974 movie ''[[Murder on the Orient Express (1974 film)|Murder on the Orient Express]]'', the Swedish missionary Greta Ohlsson (''[[Ingrid Bergman]]'') wears a Saint Christopher medallion, the apparent loss of which causes her to panic before boarding the train in Istanbul, although she finds it shortly afterward.
*In the 1978, film, ''[[The Ninth Configuration]]'', written and directed by [[William Peter Blatty]], who also wrote ''The Exorcist'', a Saint Christopher Medal figures prominently in the plot.
*In the 1983 movie ''[[The Outsiders (film)|The Outsiders]]'', the character Dallas Winston is seen wearing a St. Christopher necklace.
*In the 1993 movie ''[[Kalifornia]]'', Brad Pitt's character Early Grayce sticks a small statue of Saint Christopher on the dash of the car in one scene and tells David Duchovny's character Brian Kessler "Just in case".
*In 2003's ''[[The Magdalene Sisters]]'', Crispina and her sister both own St. Christopher medals
*In the 2004 film ''[[The Machinist]]'', Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) is often shown wearing a St. Christopher medal.
*In the 2003 movie ''[[Cowboys & Angels]]'', Shane Butler (Michael Legge) is given a Saint Christopher pendant by his mother just before leaving his parents’ home for the first time. He later gives the pendant to his friend, Vincent.
*In the 2003 film [[Seabiscuit (film)|Seabiscuit]], Marcela ([[Elizabeth Banks]]) hands Red ([[Tobey Maguire]]) a pendant of St. Christopher before Seabiscuit's final race at Santa Anita for good luck.
*In the 2004 movie ''[[Crash (2004 film)|Crash]]'', Peter Waters ([[Larenz Tate]]) carries around a pocket sized statue of Saint Christopher. Waters hitches a ride from police officer Tom Hansen (played by [[Ryan Phillippe]]) who has the same statue figure on his dashboard. When Hansen laughs at the thought that Waters has one too, and Waters reaches to pull his statue from his pocket, the cop suspects a gun and shoots him. When Hansen approaches the dead man's body, he discovers the statue in his hand, not a gun.
*In the 2004 movie ''[[The Butterfly Effect]]'', the story's main character, Evan Treborn ([[Ashton Kutcher]]) is seen wearing a Saint Christopher pendant throughout the entire movie in each stage of his life.
*In the movie ''[[Airplane (film)|Airplane!]],'' a St. Christopher statue sits on top of the glare shield in the cockpit, and hides its face as the situation aboard the aircraft deteriorates.
*In the [[Joss Whedon]]'s 2005 film ''[[Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity]],'' Jayne Cobb ([[Adam Baldwin]]) takes a St. Christopher medal off a dead security guard and wears it for the rest of the film.
*In the 2006 film ''The [[The Wind That Shakes the Barley (film)|Wind that shakes the barley]]'', Sinéad gives Damian her brother Michaels St Christopher Medal after he was executed by the Black and Tans. Damian returns the Medal to Sinéad with his final letter to her the night before he is executed.
*In the 2009 film, ''[[Bunny and the Bull]]'', Eloisa, a Spanish waitress who believes in superstitions, panics when she believes her St. Christopher medallion has been stolen and is scared to travel without it.
*In the 2010 movie, ''[[The Book of Eli]]'', Eli ([[Denzel Washington]]) wears a Saint Christopher pendant on a chain.
*In the 2013 film ''[[Gravity (2013 film)|Gravity]],'' Dr. Ryan Stone ([[Sandra Bullock]]) sees an [[icon]] in an evacuated Russian space station depicting Saint Christopher carrying the Christ-child on his shoulder across a river. The plot turns at this point with a paranormal event inspiring Dr. Stone to shake off despair and through a form of prayer, courage, and ingenuity find a way to escape.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2013/09/movie-recommendation-gravity.html|title=Movie Recommendation: Gravity|last=Sanidopoulos|first=John|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>
*In the 2013 movie [[Red 2 (film)|''Red 2'']], Dr. Bailey (Anthony Hopkins) is looking for his Saint Christopher medal in his cell in the insane asylum while Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker), and Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) are trying to enlist his help.
*In the 2016 film, ''[[The Shallows (film)|The Shallows]],'' Nancy Adams ([[Blake Lively]]) is shown wearing a Saint Christopher necklace throughout the movie.

==Television==
*In the TV series [[Fear the Walking Dead|Fear The Walking Dead]] (2020, Season 6, Episode 2), [[Daniel Salazar|Daniel]] gives [[Victor Strand (character)|Strand]] a medallion of Saint Christopher, telling him it helps people to bear heavy burdens, and that Strand needs it more than he does. Strand later gives the medallion to [[Alicia Clark|Alicia]], and it appears several more times throughout the series.
*In the TV series The Boys (2020, season 2, Episode 8), Bill Butcher gives Ryan a medal of Saint Christopher claiming it belonged to Becca, Ryan's mother and Butcher's wife, and that it should protect him.
*In the TV series [[Bones (TV series)|Bones]] (Season 4, Episode 24), Agent [[Seeley Booth]] gives his brother Jared, who wants to travel in [[India]] by motorbike, a pendant of Saint Christopher.
* In the TV series [[Life on Mars (UK TV series)]] DCI Sam Tyler [[John Simm]] is seen wearing a pendant of St. Christopher throughout the series.
*In the Netflix TV series [[Dark (TV series)|Dark]] a St. Christopher pendant is a reoccurring object.
*In the first chapter of [[Lost in Space (2018 TV series)|Lost in Space (2018)]] Dr. Zoe Smith found her St. Christopher necklace near the crashed spaceship.
*In the TV series [[You (TV series)|You]] Candace's necklace is a St Christopher medallion.
*In the Netflix TV series [[The Order (TV series)|The Order]], one of the university's secret societies is called, "The Knights of Saint Christopher."

===Celebrity===
*During the [[The Beatles|Beatles]]’ visit to [[New York City]] in August 1964, a fan named Angie McGowan grabbed a St. Christopher's medal from the neck of drummer [[Ringo Starr]]. McGowan later returned the medal in a much-publicized event.<ref>*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoQBi38C0dU "Ringo finds St. Christopher's Medal"], WABC-TV, August 1964, Retrieved 04-19-2009</ref>
*[[NASCAR]] champion [[Alan Kulwicki]], a Roman Catholic, always raced with a St. Christopher devotional medal in his car.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v99DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WbEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3168,607578&dq=alan-kulwicki+saint+christopher&hl=en|title=Kulwicki Lives On Through Scholarship|date=October 3, 1999|work=Albany Herald|page=10C|access-date=16 April 2013}}</ref>
*[[One Direction]] singer [[Harry Styles]] famously wore a St. Christopher medallion while touring. He gave it to a young girl in Ghana named Fridous during [[One Direction]]'s trip for [[Red Nose Day]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/OneDirection/view/68192/ |title=One Direction on Africa charity trip: "It was really upsetting" |publisher=Pressparty |date=2013-02-18 |access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref>
*[[Isabel Jeans]], a British actress in many films, including [[Gigi (1958 film)|''Gigi'']], chose an SC Medal as her luxury on an island whilst interviewed in 1953 on the BBC "Desert Island Discs" show, broadcast on 24 April 1953.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009ybvh | title=Isabel Jeans | work=Desert Island Discs | publisher=BBC |date=24 April 1953}}</ref>

===Other===
*The motorcycle apparel company [[Icon Motosports]] has been sewing a St. Christopher medallion into a hidden pouch in the breast pocket of their jackets since 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2009/04/29april09icononabike/ |title=Icon’s Icon: St. Christopher Rides a Motorcycle |publisher=MotorcycleDaily |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Christianity in popular culture]]

Knife legislation

2011-01-21T18:04:49Z

178.252.25.163: /* Poland */

{{Refimprove|date=November 2007}}
'''Knife legislation''' is [[legislation]] regarding [[knives]]. As knives can be used as offensive [[weapon]]s, carrying knives in [[public place|public]] is forbidden by law in many countries and schools. Exceptions may be made for [[hunting]] knives, and for knives used for work-related purposes (e.g. chef's knives).

Carrying or possessing automatic knives ([[switchblade]]s) by civilians is often banned. [[Butterfly knife|Butterfly knives]] (Balisongs) are also frequently restricted due to an impression of connection with gang activity. A notable exception is [[Austria]], where civilian possession of automatic knives including double-edged automatic [[OTF knife|OTF]] ("out the front") daggers is legal.

New, assisted opening knives where the blade is partially opened manually but the opening is finished by another mechanism (such as a torsion bar) are currently a "grey area" in many countries as the courts and legislature have yet to catch up with development.

Carrying knives on commercial [[airplane]]s is subject to many prohibitions which vary too frequently to be listed here. Knives can normally be transported by air travelers if securely packed in hold luggage, where they will be inaccessible during the flight.

==Canada==
Certain knives are designated as 'prohibited weapons' pursuant to the [[Criminal Code of Canada]]. Section 84(1) defines such knives as "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".<ref>[http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-46/bo-ga:l_III-gb:s_109//en#anchorbo-ga:l_III-gb:s_84 Criminal Code of Canada]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/C-46/page-3.html#codese:84-ss:_1_-df:CODEARMEPROHIBEE-m1 |title=Criminal Code (R.S., 1985, c. C-46) |date=December 14, 2009 |work=laws.justice.gc.ca |publisher=Department of Justice, Canada |accessdate=January 18, 2010}}</ref> By law, only those who have been granted exemption by the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] via the [[Canadian Firearms Program]] are allowed to possess (but not acquire) prohibited weapons.

If one is found to be in unauthorized possession of prohibited weapon by any [[law enforcement officer]], he or she is liable to maximum of 5 years in jail and the weapon being seized. The peace officer can then apply to a provincial court judge for the said weapon to be forfeited and be disposed as he or she sees fit. The import and export of such devices are also strictly regulated and enforced by the [[Canada Border Services Agency]].<ref>[http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/weapons_into_canada.asp Bringing Weapons into Canada]</ref>

Examples of such knives include:<ref>[http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5044-eng.html#P002 Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada]</ref>
* automatic knives such as [[switchblades]];
* centrifugal knives such as flick knives or [[butterfly knife|butterfly knives]];
* [[gravity knife|gravity knives]];
* Constant Companion (belt-buckle knife)
* finger rings with blades or other sharp objects projecting from the surface;
* [[push dagger]]s;
* spiked wristbands;

==China==
Due to concerns about potential violence at the [[2008 Olympic Games]] in [[Beijing]], China is beginning to restrict "dangerous knives", requiring that purchasers register with the government when purchasing these knives. Included in the new restrictions are knives with [[Fuller (weapon)|"blood grooves"]], [[Pocket knife#Locking knives|lockblade]] knives, knives with blades measuring over 22 cm (8.6 in) in length, and knives with blades over 15 cm in length also having a point angle of less than 60 degrees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080506/od_nm/knives_dc_1 |title= Registering potentially dangerous knives |author=Kirby Chien}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/06/content_8116966.htm |title=China strengthens control over deadly knives}}</ref> As of January 2011, according to an authorized Leatherman dealer in Beijing all knives with a locking blade are illegal unless they are part of a larger multi-tool like a leatherman. However, many people still carry locking pocket knives especially when camping with no issues. He suggested carrying locking knives in checked luggage on airplanes, and on your person in trains and subways since they could be confiscated if found in a bag. Foreigners are generally given a bit more leeway in China so if a traveler is caught with a small knife there will probably be no prosecution and at most confiscation.

==Czech Republic==
Czech weapon law from the year 2002 concerns firearms only,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sagit.cz/pages/sbirkatxt.asp?zdroj=sb02119&cd=76&typ=r
|title=§1 zákona 119/2002 Sb., zdroj: SBÍRKA ZÁKONŮ ročník 2002, částka 52, ze dne 09.04.2002 (§1, Law No 119/2002, Collection of Laws vol.2002, sum 52, published 2002-04-09)
|accessdate=2009-01-08
}}</ref> with no other legislation concerning knives in existence (with the exception of the paragraphs of the penal code penalizing the use of any weapons in criminal offenses). This means there are no restrictions on the possession or carrying of any types of knives or swords, not that it is common or considered appropriate to carry one openly in public places such as streets or public buildings.

==England and Wales==
The [[Bill of Rights 1689|1689 Bill of Rights]] ensured that only parliament and not the King could restrict the right of the people to bear arms. Over the course of the 20th century, the UK's parliament has gradually implemented tighter regulation of the civilian ownership of arms such as firearms<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970005_en_1 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 (c. 5)]</ref> and knives. The main knife legislation is found in the [[Criminal Justice Act 1988]] (CJA), but certain types of knife are banned under the [[Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959]] (amended 1961) (ROWA), the relevant section of the latter being Section 1:

:(1) Any person who manufactures, sells or hires or offers for sale or hire, or exposes or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire or lends or gives to any other person—
::(a) any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, sometimes known as a “flick knife” or “flick gun”; or
::(b) any knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device, sometimes known as a “gravity knife”,
:shall be guilty of an offence [...]

Subsection 2 also makes it illegal to import knives of this type. As a result it is (almost) impossible to obtain such a knife without either committing or [[abettor|abetting]] an offence. The above legislation does not refer to possession of such knives other than possession for the purpose of sale or hire; it is therefore not [[illegal per se|illegal ''per se'']] to merely possess such a knife.

The CJA 1988 mainly relates to carrying knives in [[public place]]s, section 139 being the most important:
:(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence.
:(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.
:(3) This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.
:(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.

The phrase "good reason" in subsection 4 is intended to allow for "common sense" possession of knives, so that it is legal to carry a knife if there is a ''[[bona fide]]'' reason to do so. Subsection 5 gives some specific examples of ''bona fide'' reasons: a knife for use at work (e.g. a chef's knife), as part of a national costume (e.g. a [[sgian dubh]] for the [[Scottish apparel|Scottish national costume]]), or for religious reasons (e.g. a [[Sikh]] [[Kirpan]]).

The special exception which exists in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (s139) for folding knives (pocket knives) is another "common sense" measure accepting that some small knives are carried for general utility; however, even a folding pocket knife of less than 3" (76 mm) may still be considered an offensive weapon if carried or used for that purpose. It is a common belief that a folding knife must be non-locking for this provision to apply, but the wording of the Criminal Justice Act does not mention locking and the matter becomes a question as to the definition of "folding pocket knife". In the case of ''R. v Deegan'' (1998) <ref><u>[http://www.wikicrimeline.co.uk/index.php?title=Possession_of_an_article_with_a_blade_or_point Offence of having article with blade or point in public place]<u></ref> in the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales]], the ruling that 'folding' was intended to mean 'non-locking' was upheld. As the only higher court in England and Wales is the Supreme Court the only way this ruling could be overturned is by a dissenting ruling by the Supreme Court or by [[Act of Parliament]].

The Offensive Weapons Act 1996 covers the possession of knives within school premises:
:(1) Any person who has an article to which section 139 of this Act applies with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence.
:(2) Any person who has an offensive weapon within the meaning of section 1 of the M1 [[Prevention of Crime Act 1953]] with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence.
:(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article or weapon with him on the premises in question.

(This is followed by subsection 4 which gives the same specific exceptions as subsection 139(5) with the addition of "for educational purposes".) This would appear to imply that all legislation on knives in public applies similarly to school premises, and therefore a folding pocket knife under 3" in length would be considered legal.

The Offensive Weapons Act 1996 imposes an age restriction on the sale of knives:
:(1) Any person who sells to a person under the age of sixteen years an article to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence [...]
:(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to—
::(a) any knife, knife blade or razor blade, [...]

(Exceptions follow for safety razor blades, so only [[straight razor]]s are affected.)

British courts have in the past taken the marketing of a particular brand of knife into account when considering whether an otherwise legal folding knife was carried as an offensive weapon. A knife which is marketed as "tactical", "military", "special ops", etc. could therefore carry an extra liability. The '''Knives Act 1997''' now restricts the marketing of knives as offensive weapons and thus it is much less likely that such marketing could be used as evidence against a defendant.

Although English law insists that it is the responsibility of the prosecution to provide evidence proving a crime has been committed, an individual must provide evidence to prove that they had a ''bona fide'' reason for carrying a knife (if this is the case). While this may appear to be a reversal of the usual burden of proof, technically the prosecution has already proven the case ([[prima facie]]) by establishing that a knife was being carried in a public place.
*[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060038_en_6#pt2-pb6 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 on Knives, etc.]
* [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_070761 New powers to tackle gun and knife crime]

Swiss Army Knives with locking blades are illegal to carry 'without good reason' in the UK and the crown prosecution service have attempted to prosecute policemen, hikers and picnickers who possess such weapons without a specific and immediate reason.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266170/Disabled-caravanner-prosecuted-keeping-penknife-car-use-picnics.html Caravanner, 61, prosecuted for having Swiss Army knife in his glove box... to cut up fruit on picnics]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-441033/Swiss-Army-knife-leads-ex-police-chief-fall-foul-old-force.html Swiss Army knife leads ex-police chief to fall foul of his old force]</ref>

==Germany==
German law explicitly forbids a few types of knives and regards other types of knives as weapons.

German law defines a weapon to be any item that is intended to reduce or eliminate the ability of a person to attack another person or to defend themselves. Example: A [[bayonet]] is intended to injure or kill people, hence it is regarded as a weapon by the law, while a [[machete]] is regarded as a tool to clear dense vegetation. A knife with a two-sided blade and a [[switchblade]] which is not illegal as described below are always regarded as weapons. Sabres and similar items are regarded as weapons.

German law explicitly lists the following knives as being illegal to manufacture, import, sell or possess:
* [[Butterfly knife|Butterfly knives]]
* [[Gravity knife|Gravity knives]]
* [[Push dagger]]s
* [[Switchblade]] knives are the only knives where the law makes restrictions on the length of the knife:
** All [[OTF knife|OTF]] switchblade knives are regarded as illegal to possess.
** All side-opening switchblade knives are illegal, except when the blade is no longer than 8.5 cm

The law makes an exception for push daggers: These knives may be owned and used by owners of a hunting permit, or by members of the fur industry.

All weapons are subject to restrictions, including a minimum age of the owner, they have to be stored properly and may not be carried at certain public events. All knives that are not illegal or regarded as weapons can be purchased, owned and carried by anyone.

In February 2008 a new law was passed which outlaws the carrying of certain types of knives without commonly awarded purpose:
* All switchblades, even those formerly allowed for carrying.
* All locking folders with one-handed opening mechanism. If the knife has just one of these two features, it is still legal.
* All blades over 12.0 cm.

==Hong Kong==
Under the ''Weapons Ordinance'' (HK Laws. Chap 217), certain knives are designated as 'prohibited weapons', including:

* Gravity knife
* Knuckleduster whether spiked or not and with or without blade
* Any bladed or pointed weapon designed to be used in a fashion whereby the handle is held in a clenched fist and the blade or point protrudes between the fingers of the fist
* Any knife the blade of which is exposed by a spring or other mechanical or electric device

Possession of prohibited weapon is illegal under section 4 of the ordinance and offender is liable to a fine of and to imprisonment for 3 years.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/e1bf50c09a33d3dc482564840019d2f4/b2e42aa3d12b3d70c825648300285156?OpenDocument S.4 ''Weapons Ordinance'']</ref> Any [[Hong Kong Police Force|Police officers]] or [[Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong)|Customs officers]] can seize and detain any prohibited weapon. Once convicted, the weapon is automatically forfeited to the government and can then be disposed of by the Commissioner of Police<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/e1bf50c09a33d3dc482564840019d2f4/4410e8500f25007fc8256483002851b4?OpenDocument S.13 ''Weapons Ordinance'']</ref>.

==Hungary==
Carrying a knife with blade length over {{Convert|8|cm|in}} is prohibited in public places in Hungary unless justified by sport, work or everyday activity. Switchblades, throwing stars and "[[ballistic knife|French knives]]" are prohibited regardless of blade length and may be sold only to members of the army, law enforcement and the national security agency. Violation may be punished with a fine up to 50000 [[HUF]]. Possession at home and transportation in secure wrapping is allowed for everyone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://net.jogtar.hu/jr/gen/hjegy_doc.cgi?docid=A0300175.KOR |title=175/2003. (X. 28.) Korm. rendelet |year=2003 |language=Hungarian |work=net.jogtar.hu |publisher=CompLex |accessdate=February 10, 2010}}</ref>

==Japan==
Any fixed knife containing a blade length of 5.9 inches or more requires permission from the prefectural public safety commission in order to possess. Permission requirements also apply to any type of pocket knife over 2.2 inches (including switchblades), spears over 5.9 inches in blade length, and Japanese halberds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20080611-70248.html |title=Double-edged knives may be regulated by law |publisher=''The Yomiuri Shimbun'' |date=July 11, 2008 |accessdate=2010-11-16 }}</ref>

==Poland==
All kind of knives are regarded as dangerous tools, but are not considered weapons under Polish law<ref>[http://isip.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19990530549 Act of 21 May 1999 on weapons and ammunition] (Dz.U. 1999 nr 53 poz. 549)</ref>, so no restriction related to weapons apply. The exception is a blade hidden in an object that doesn't look like a weapon (a sword in an umbrella, a dagger in a shoe etc.). It is legal to sell, buy, trade and possess any knives, and Polish law does not prohibit carrying a knife in a public place. However, certain prohibitions in possession of so called "dangerous tools" may apply during mass events<ref>[http://isip.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU20090620504 Act of 20 March 2009 on the safety of the mass events] (Dz.U. 2009 nr 62 poz. 504)</ref>.

==United States of America==
Every state and many cities have laws that concern the carrying of weapons, and these laws either explicitly or implicitly cover various types of knives. Some states have laws that prohibit ownership of certain knives. Local restrictions can be far greater; [[Portland, Oregon]] (which, ironically, is home of [[Gerber Legendary Blades]]) passed a law banning all pocket knives, until the measure was finally overturned by the [[Oregon Supreme Court]]. Further complications are provided by the use of such terms as "dagger", "dirk", "stiletto" and "Bowie knife" with no clear definition of what these are, as well as restrictions on blade length in the absence of any standard for how this length is to be measured. One such dispute over measurement resulted in the arbitrary seizure by [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] of a shipment of Columbia River Knife and Tool company knives, resulting in an estimated [[US$]]1 million loss to the company before the shipment was released.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm |title=STATE KNIFE LAWS|author=BERNARD LEVINE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/fedswitch.txt |title=United States Code TITLE 15 CHAPTER 29 - MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE KNIVES}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.akti.org/news-updates/wsj.html |title=Pocketknives are Tools Used by Millions |author=David D. Kowalski}}</ref>

New designs such as [[Assisted-opening knife|assisted-opening knives]] make the question of what is legal to carry even more complicated. The assisted-opening design used, for example, by [[Kershaw Knives|Kershaw]] employs a system by which the user starts the blade open by pressing a nub on the knife tang which extends out the back of the handle liners. The torsion bar then takes over and completes the opening of the knife. This system is generally not considered a "switchblade" because the user must move the blade to open it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kershawknives.com/knifetech.php?feature_id=1 |title=Knife Technology: SpeedSafe}}</ref>

In some places such as Indiana it is against the law to possess a knife on school property that can be an instrument that can be used for inflicting, cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds. Also on school property, if you have a knife that is intended to be used as a weapon it is against the law in that state. However, aside from those restrictions, Indiana has no knife legislation except the ban on automatic or propelled knives, meaning that a citizen may carry folding, fixed blade, dagger, bowie, or bayonet type weapons on their person, provided they do not possess them on school property.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title35/ar47/ch5.html |title=Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency}}</ref>

===Proposed Hawaiian ban of pocket knives===
A 2009 bill introduced in the Hawaiian senate, SB 126, would ban the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, or transport any "knife with a blade that folds into the handle and which is suitable for carrying in the pocket."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/bills/SB126_.htm |title=A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DANGEROUS WEAPONS.}}</ref> This bill was introduced by state Democratic Senator [[Les Ihara]]. Ihara, who has stated he does not agree with the bill, introduced it at the request of a group of his constituents, and does not expect the bill to reach the floor for a vote.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=The Buffalo News |author=Will Elliott |date=February 22, 2009 |title=Slicing Knives |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/other/outdoors/story/586690.html |format={{dead link|date=July 2010}}}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Hunting license]]
*[[Weapon possession (crime)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ebladestore.com/knife_laws.html Knife laws in the US (by state)]
*[http://www.ninehundred.net/~equalccw/knifelaw.html California Knife Laws: A Comprehensive Guide]
*[http://edcforums.com/showthread.php/62117-Knife-laws-throughout-Europe?s=4ccdbca44a96a901da713c591b24d874 Collection of laws in Europe]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knife Legislation}}
[[Category:Statutory law]]
[[Category:Knives]]