Posted on 06/12/2012 12:56:31 PM PDT by KyGeezer
He has completed the community service, and he has paid the fine. Because of the way that Clayton Baltzer sees the world, he believes this must be part of God’s plan.
Still, the Grove City High School graduate now has a New York weapons charge on his record. Baltzer, 19, is a Bible-college student — a camping-ministry major — and took his pocketknife to New York City on a field trip. He did not know about New York’s strict knife laws. He now has some fame among knife-rights advocates because of what happened to him.
“I have never been in trouble before,” Baltzer said.
His fine-arts class at Baptist Bible College & Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pa., went to New York City on March 27. It was Baltzer’s first trip to the city. On the schedule: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the World Trade Center site, Times Square and an opera at Lincoln Center.
Baltzer and his class were at the Times Square subway station when someone grabbed him by the arm and said, “ Don’t move.” It was a plainclothes New York City police officer.
(Excerpt) Read more at dispatch.com ...
In 1976 my father took me to NYC as part of a Bicentennial trip. I remember walking around with him in an extremely seedy Times Square clutching a tiny pocket knife in my hand. Good thing I wasn’t busted then!
To paraphrase Samuel Johnson, if I owned New York City and Hell I would rent out the former and live in the latter.
Glad they got that crazy blade-carrying clinger under control. What a menace; NYC and Sarah Jessica Parker can now rest easy and will sleep better knowing they are protected from the likes of ‘him’...
X-treme/sarc
A pocket knife is a tool.
Certainly it can be used as a weapon. So can a hammer, or a wrench.
I carry a knife with me all of the time, and have used it thousands of times opening packages, cutting lines , skinning electric connections, I would feel naked without it.
Funny thing is I could probably walk naked through New York with out a problem, but I cannot carry a knife.
Great place to visit and had lot's of fun in NYC but would not want to live there.
No mention of the length of the pocketknife blade. I’ve seen pocketknives with a 4 1/2” blade, and I’m carrying a Buck pocketknife with a 2 1/8” blade (I just measured it).
Now, any pocketknife can be lethal - but as a weapon my pocketknife is far less formidable than the 4” variety. Surely, there has to be SOME definition as to what is a utility knife and what is a weapon, doesn’t there?
I see construction workers in NYC carrying knives with pocket clips every day
I was passing through NYC once with my friend XD-40. I was so nervous I must have looked very suspicious to all the cops at Penn Station. Or was that a dream?
Feel the same about Boston. Loved visiting, the history and shops etc. But, no way I could live there even though I would love to if it weren’t for the politics/taxes/comparatively poor economy than West Texas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Outdoor_Essentials
NYC - the safest city in the US because of all the gun and knife laws. What kind of knife was it? Like a pen knife or a Bowie knife strapped to his leg? I bet you could tape a razor blade to a Popsicle stick and be okay.
“NYC sucks.”
yes and not in that good Las Vegas way either.
I suspect the story is leaving out some information....maybe a Crocodile Dundee sort of knife?
I can't imagine them going after a small pocket knife.
I blame the cop - the kid looks like he just stepped out of the Book of Mormon. Toody and Muldoon going after boy scouts again?! The cop - on his way, no doubt, to his local Dunkin’ Donuts - couldn’t tell the kid to put the knife away?
Nervous at Penn Station? What a wuss!
Goodness gracious. I have had a pocket knife in my pocket on a daily basis since I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. I feel lost without one. I have extras, just in case I misplace one of my two favorites.
Used to be, there was the “spirit of the law” and the “line of the law”
Which one do you think this cop was enforcing.
Wait...WHAT? NYC has knife laws? I don’t go anywhere without at least 1 knife and usually more. Just sitting here now I have my Victorinox Fireman on my belt and a small double blade folder in my pocket. Usually at work I carry a folding razor knife for cutting paper.
I have carried a knife with me almost continually since grade school!
I really like Case for knoves and Victorinox for multi tools. A Victorinox Fireman lasts me about 6 months, then it’s worn out. Intend to start carrying one of their survival tools as well although the Fireman can do pretty much the same thing.
A few yearrs ago I had to check my Vicky before goung into a school picnic at a local amusement park. Haven’t been back since and don’t intend to go back.
Dittos now with NYC!
BTW I wish someone would make a multi tool similar to the Fireman but with lockers on screwdivers, saws and such.
They don’t think much of the rest of the Constitution either.
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