Capitol Police prohibited my pocket knife

[Howard Bullock]

Why did they make me lock up my pocket knife with my Pistol during the 2A rally? Based on the statute below my knife is not a dangerous weapon. Is there some other statute that applies?

18 Pa.C.S. § 913: Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility

(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if he:
(1) knowingly possesses a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a court facility or knowingly causes a firearm or other dangerous weapon to be present in a court facility; or

(2) knowingly possesses a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a court facility with the intent that the firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime or knowingly causes a firearm or other dangerous weapon to be present in a court facility with the intent that the firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime.

(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), an offense under subsection (a)(1) is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(2) An offense under subsection (a)(2) is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) An offense under subsection (a)(1) is a summary offense if the person was carrying a firearm under section 6106(b) (relating to firearms not to be carried without a license) or 6109 (relating to licenses) and failed to check the firearm under subsection (e) prior to entering the court facility.

(c) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) The lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth or a political subdivision who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of any violation of law.
(2) The lawful performance of official duties by a court official.
(3) The carrying of rifles and shotguns by instructors and participants in a course of instruction provided by the Pennsylvania Game Commission under 34 Pa.C.S. § 2704 (relating to eligibility for license).
(4) Associations of veteran soldiers and their auxiliaries or members of organized armed forces of the United States or the Commonwealth, including reserve components, when engaged in the performance of ceremonial duties with county approval.
(5) The carrying of a dangerous weapon or firearm unloaded and in a secure wrapper by an attorney who seeks to employ the dangerous weapon or firearm as an exhibit or as a demonstration and who possesses written authorization from the court to bring the dangerous weapon or firearm into the court facility.

(d) Posting of notice.--Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each courthouse or other building containing a court facility and each court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a)(1) with respect to a court facility if the notice was not so posted at each public entrance to the courthouse or other building containing a court facility and at the court facility unless the person had actual notice of the provisions of subsection (a).

(e) Facilities for checking firearms or other dangerous weapons.--Each county shall make available at or within the building containing a court facility by July 1, 2002, lockers or similar facilities at no charge or cost for the temporary checking of firearms by persons carrying firearms under section 6106(b) or 6109 or for the checking of other dangerous weapons that are not otherwise prohibited by law. Any individual checking a firearm, dangerous weapon or an item deemed to be a dangerous weapon at a court facility must be issued a receipt. Notice of the location of the facility shall be posted as required under subsection (d).

(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Court facility." The courtroom of a court of record; a courtroom of a community court; the courtroom of a magisterial district judge; a courtroom of the Philadelphia Municipal Court; a courtroom of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court; a courtroom of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia; judge's chambers; witness rooms; jury deliberation rooms; attorney conference rooms; prisoner holding cells; offices of court clerks, the district attorney, the sheriff and probation and parole officers; and any adjoining corridors.

"Dangerous weapon." A bomb, grenade, blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife (the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism or otherwise) or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.

"Firearm." Any weapon, including a starter gun, which will or is designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas or escape of gas. The term does not include any device designed or used exclusively for the firing of stud cartridges, explosive rivets or similar industrial ammunition.

[ViperGTS19801]

Because they have power, and people with power like to make other people do things when there is no reason to, because it gives them an egotistical stiffy.

That's why.

[ungawa]

They probably don't know what they were doing and were also overwhelmed. They weren't even asking people to go through the metal detector after checking in their guns according to people I talked to, at different times of the day, including in my case.

I saw a guy with a very conspicuous knife let in after checking his gun.

[Azzy]

Heck, I watched 2 busses of kids (young to mid teen) wander through with lunch bags and backpacks, setting off buzzers, and the cops just waving them through.

I was there and was by myself when checking a firearm... and did not have to go back through the detector, even after setting it off.

[ScaredOnce]

I was there and was by myself when checking a firearm... and did not have to go back through the detector, even after setting it off.

Yup. Same here. It was as usual... "Feel Good Security".

But, honestly... I thought the Capitol Police were pretty cool throughout my whole experience.

The only weird thing was that they didn't give me back my firearm, but rather asked me to go find it. The cop asked, "Which one do you need back?"

I replied, "The most expensive one you have - maybe a Sig?." jokingly. Then I requested my XD.

[ungawa]

Heck, I watched 2 busses of kids (young to mid teen) wander through with lunch bags and backpacks, setting off buzzers, and the cops just waving them through.

They sent a couple dozen around the detector when I was there, I guess they were tired of the alarm going off.

Yup. Same here. It was as usual... "Feel Good Security".

But, honestly... I thought the Capitol Police were pretty cool throughout my whole experience.

The only weird thing was that they didn't give me back my firearm, but rather asked me to go find it. The cop asked, "Which one do you need back?"

I replied, "The most expensive one you have - maybe a Sig?." jokingly. Then I requested my XD.

I asked them how much would it cost to get me an upgrade. I tell that joke every time and they always laugh

[fingers80002]

Could we please stop bashing the Capitol police......

They did the best they could, when they were in an overwhelming situation.....

I think they did a good job, even though I was outside, making sure their job was easier..........

[ungawa]

I'm certainly not bashing them. I've always liked them.

[ScaredOnce]

Could we please stop bashing the Capitol police......

They did the best they could, when they were in an overwhelming situation.....

I think they did a good job, even though I was outside, making sure their job was easier..........

Umm, fingers... We're not all bashing the Capitol Police. Note my accolade. cool?

I thought they did a decent job - despite the volume. I checked my XD late (renegade tried to lose me... lol). At that time, they even had another cop show up to speed the people in front of me through. By the time I handed them my pre-filled form, I was the only one in the room. The extra cop had a K9 officer with him... Beautiful animal - well behaved, as expected. I was kinda glad just to be close to it. Both dude cop and K9 cop had "Explosives Detection" on their uniforms somewhere. I thought that was interesting...


I wish I would've met ya there. I know that meeting up, though briefly, with reverserboy was great. It was weird, but I felt like I knew him. He was a spitting image and (what I briefly perceived) same personality as one of my close buddies. So, that's probably what I was thinking. Hope to meet ya soon. Conitnued props to renegadephoenix (specifcally, and others!) for helping me learn about the lobbying efforts and sparking my interest!

[fingers80002]

Umm, fingers... We're not all bashing the Capitol Police. Note my accolade. cool?

I thought they did a decent job - despite the volume. I checked my XD late (renegade tried to lose me... lol). At that time, they even had another cop show up to speed the people in front of me through. By the time I handed them my pre-filled form, I was the only one in the room. The extra cop had a K9 officer with him... Beautiful animal - well behaved, as expected. I was kinda glad just to be close to it. Both dude cop and K9 cop had "Explosives Detection" on their uniforms somewhere. I thought that was interesting...


I wish I would've met ya there. I know that meeting up, though briefly, with reverserboy was great. It was weird, but I felt like I knew him. He was a spitting image and (what I briefly perceived) same personality as one of my close buddies. So, that's probably what I was thinking. Hope to meet ya soon. Conitnued props to renegadephoenix (specifcally, and others!) for helping me learn about the lobbying efforts and sparking my interest!

You checked your gun after the rally, or you walked by me.......