I should probally clarify a few things in the OP especially for cazzel.
The knives that were over 3" long were exposed on his belt.
3 1/2" and under are legal for concealed carry in Wisconsin.
You can carry a freakin’ Batleth or Kitana down your back if you want to in Wisconsin as long as it is exposed.
The conundrum comes from the fact that the Officer saw my friend using a knife that he thought was large and then placing it on his belt. The officer had reason to stop and question my friend about the knives and what he planned on using them for, but he did not have cause for a tarry frisk. And my friend was being a helpful little suspect and told the officer what he had on him and showed him where they were. The other knife that the officer freaked out about was on his belt in a knife sheath. My friend’s coat was kilted up so you could clearly see the knife so it was not concealed, when the officer frisked him AFTER taking the knife from it’s pouch his coat came over the pouch becasue the officer MOVED the coat. THEN declared it concealed. That is the problem.
It is not against the law in my state to carry as many knives as you darn well please concealed on you as long as they are under 3 1/2" and they are not a switchblade or other gravity type knife. If you wish to carry a knife LARGER than 3 1/2 inches you may, just as long as it is visible on your person.
The only exception to this is in a bar or a government building.
Infact I frequently carry at least 2 knives on my person, on of which is about 4 inches. They are tools, I use them as such.
What I don’t know is what is the best way to fight this. Getting a lawyer is first on our list, but they are expensive, and he does not hae a lot of money. Thursday, however, he can get an appointment with the city attorney.
To address cazzel, my friend never lied, he DID just come back from a trip, and he had every right to be carrying what he was, the question was if he was concealing what he had.
~Aqua
Not to mention slicing your steak and vegetables. Even a gun is regarded as a tool in some parts of this country. Americans actually do have a right to be armed, i.e. carry weapons, written into our constitution. We do not, of course, have a right to use weapons on other people except in self-defense but around here (Indiana) the hunting season sees numbers of citizens walking down the road with high powered rifles on their shoulders. Perfectly legal as long as not concealed and used on deer and ducks instead of people, and not carried into the post office. Some stores do require weapons to be checked at the door. And stores that sell guns keep them under lock and key. Which is just common sense, like putting locks on your kitchen cabinet to keep children and the irresponsible out of trouble.