Here in Arkansas, the weapons laws are far less restrictive than in most of the other states. For instance, there is no outright prohibition on the ownership and carrying of knives.
Rather, law enforcement looks at the motive of the person carrying the weapon and not the knife itself. In other words, if you are carrying the knife to harm or threaten someone, you can be charged with a crime. If you are carrying a knife for work or as a general protection from those with bad intent, it’s not illegal.
How it could still get you arrested
Police can’t always determine intent and motive in the first seconds or even minutes of a traffic stop or other encounter with law enforcement. Unfortunately, their response typically is to arrest people first and settle the particulars in court.
As one might imagine, that can lead to a nightmare scenario where good intentions get misjudged and innocent people can get charged with crimes.
The better option after an arrest
Not all who get arrested are actually guilty, an inconvenient fact that many police officers tend to ignore. Instead of wasting your time arguing with the officer making the arrest, verbally invoke your right to remain silent.
Make no statements to the police about your knife or intentions for using it until you have spoken to defense counsel. These rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution, but defendants must invoke them for them to be applicable.
Learning more about your rights and responsibilities under Arkansas law can help you avoid these types of situations.