In re: Luke W
88 Cal. App. 4th 650
A credit card multi-tool knife is not a concealed dagger or dirk knife in California.
What knife laws (statutory law) mean is about more than the legislated law in the United States. Judicial opinions (case law, common law, or judicial precedent) are considered "law" with the same force as statutes. Here are pertinent case law summaries that provide helpful information on how the court system has handled or decided knife laws in different states. We include valuable notes for the knife owner. For attorneys representing knife issues, we offer suggestions from an experienced criminal lawyer.
Please also see articles in Know Your Knife Laws that cover additional case studies or do a search on a case title.
District of Columbia Court of Appeals Case Summary
Wrenn v. District of Columbia
2017 US App. Lexis 13348
Laws limiting concealed carry impact the core Second Amendment right of self-defense.
U.S. Supreme Court Case Summary
McDonald v. City of Chicago
561 US 742 (2010)
The Second Amendment applies to the states and limits state regulations of arms.
U.S. Supreme Court Case Summary
District of Columbia v. Heller
554 US 570 (2008)
The Second Amendment right to bear arms is a generalized individual right, whether the person is involved in a “militia” or not.
Ohio Court of Appeals Case Summary
City of Akron v. Rasdan
105 Ohio App. 3d 164 (Decided June 21, 1995)
City ordinance banning knives violates substantive due process.