Chicago, Illinois Knife Laws Chicago, Illinois is one of the cities that are very strict when it comes

to selling, possessing and carrying of knives. Under Chicago municipal law, you cannot carry certain knives even if these are carefully concealed and you have no intention of using them. Because of this, you need to be extra careful in this city, especially if you are travelling around. The Municipal Code Of Chicago, Illinois This restrictions are covered by the Municipal Code of Chicago, Illinois especially chapters 8-24 of the said law. People can get easily confused about which law to follow since the US has 3 levels of law, namely, federal, state and municipal laws. Aside from the fact that you can confuse federal with state law, you can also confuse municipal law with either of the other two. Chicagos state law governing dangerous weapons categorized a 3 bladed knife as a dangerous weapon, but the municipal law regarding knife restrictions is clear that knives with blades measuring more than 2 are illegal when carried in a public place (stricter if youre 18 years old and below), concealed or otherwise. Restricted Knives: What Are They? Under the Municipal Code of Chicago, these are the prohibited type of knives: (a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, keep, possess, loan or give to any person any knife, the blade of which is released by a spring mechanism, including knives known as switch-blades, any blackjack, slingshot, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles or bludgeon. No person shall sell, offer for sale, loan or give to any person 18 years of age or under any type or kind of knife, any blade of which is two inches in length or longer.

This provision covers not only the possession of knives, but also its sale and loan. The strict provision makes it very difficult for private individuals to sell secondhand knives (especially if these belong to types of knives mentioned above) unless they have a permit. What are the exceptions to the law? Although people in general are prohibited from carrying the aforementioned knives, the following people can do so legally under paragraph (f) of Chapter 8-24 of the Municipal Code of Chicago: 1) Officers while engaged in the discharge of their official duties: Sheriffs, peace officers, and corrections officers 2) Employees or agents while engaged in the discharge of the duties of their employment: Conductors, baggagemen, messengers, drivers, watchmen, special agents and policemen employed by railroads or express companies 3) Persons lawfully summoned by an officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while so engaged in assisting such officer. It must be remembered that all of the aforementioned exceptions must be strictly interpreted to apply only when these persons are in the performance of their duties and not when they are acting beyond the scope of their duty, or in their private capacity. If their use of knives does not meet any of those 3 provisions, they would be held liable without regard for their position or job. Conclusion The knife laws of Chicago, Illinois are far stricter than in other cities when it comes to the length of the blade. Majority of the cities and states have a blade length limit of 3 or more, but Chicago opted to ban knives with blades as small as 2. This means that even a seemingly harmless Swiss/utility knife can be illegal if carried in public for whatever purpose by a person 18 years old or younger. The intent of the knife holder is not taken into account in this law. The mere act of possession already constitutes an offense regardless of whether the intention of the holder is legitimate or not.