Bingo! A piece of pipe is a piece of pipe until it’s used as a weapon. I can kill someone with my car key, a rock, a piece of wood, a piece of glass.... Or my hands and feet. None are weapons until they are used as a weapon. Government is making men into puss*es... Meanwhile a family is forced to huddle behind their bedroom door, because of their cat.. Mission accomplished.
Given the choice, other than a firearm, for something to defend myself a pocket knife would be the very low on the list. A tire iron, baseball bat, 2’ level, or shovel would all work better than a knife.