Carrying a knife around for safety is a controversial topic that has been debated for decades. Doing so has pros and cons, and it’s important to understand both sides of the debate before deciding where you lie.
If you decide to carry a knife on your person, you’ll need to take a number of health and safety considerations. Ultimately, knives are weapons, and they can cause significant injuries or even fatalities (deaths) if used incorrectly.
In this article, we’ve covered the factors to consider regarding whether or not to carry a knife around with you for safety.
Knife Laws
Depending on where you live in the world, the legal rules and regulations around carrying a knife will vary. In some areas, carrying any weapon around with you is completely illegal, even if you claim it’s for safety and self-defense.
However, in other areas, having a knife on your person while you’re in public isn’t against the law. Some regions state that only certain types of knives are acceptable, such as those with an EDC fixed blade, which you can learn more about here.
Before you purchase a knife, you must learn the legal regulations around carrying one for your specific area. This way, you can ensure you’re carrying a knife within the bounds of your national and local laws.
Learning How to Carry and Use a Knife Safely
If you plan on carrying a knife with the aim of using it for self-defense if required, you need to undergo adequate training. With proper training, you can minimize the risk of accidents and unintended injuries to yourself or others.
Plus, learning how to effectively handle a knife can help de-escalate difficult situations and prevent the use of weapons. You can learn how to properly use your knife by attending in-person training classes or watching online videos from knowledgeable professionals.
Using a Knife for Self-Defence
The option of having a weapon to hand just in case you’re in a dangerous situation is one of the leading arguments for making carrying a knife legal. However, it’s important to remember that if you choose to carry a knife on your person (as long as it’s legal in your area), you must use it for self-defense and self-defense only.
Of course, using your knife to defend yourself when you’re hiking, traveling on public transport, or walking around your local area should be a last resort. It’s always better to try and de-escalate a situation without the use of any sort of weapon if possible.
Using a knife can result in serious injuries, permanent disabilities, or even fatalities, and you must keep this in mind if you ever choose to use your weapon on another person. Even if carrying a knife is legal in your area, you will need to prove in a court of law that you used it in self-defense if you seriously injure or kill somebody else in the process.
Take some time to research the national and regional self-defense laws for your area of residency. Self-defense laws can vary drastically from place to place. Knowing how to legally use a knife for self-defense mitigates potential legal repercussions if you use your weapon for personal safety.
