So yah...

So for a decent part of my life (and like many of my friends), I have carried a "utility" knife. Either in the form of a leatherman, the classic pocket knife, or a standard folding drop point. My last and most current knife falls in the last category and definitely has seen better days. So I have found several possible replacements for it but unfortunately they all fall in the auto or assisted open category, which are only legal for active military or law enforcement to carry. And of course "switchblades" are illegal pretty much everywhere for no reason. In fact if I can get a concealed carry permit for a handgun you would think the same permit would allow me to carry a knife. But no.

Anyway this brings me to an awesome quote:

"The possession and use of dangerous weapons has long
presented a problem to the law... Statutes of this kind have
been criticized for having the effect of prohibiting the law-
abiding citizen from protecting himself, while at the same
time failing to reach the criminal who habitually uses
dangerous weapons for illegal ends. Nevertheless, a great
many convictions have been obtained for the crime of carrying
concealed weapons. Hence, the Committee felt that a
continuation of the same policies which lie behind the
present law of deadly weapons was desirable."

Which was by an Illinois legislator in the 50s on a committee concerning knife laws. And in response to that was a quote on the website where I found it:

"Translated into plain English, they said that this law only
affects law-abiding citizens, but since many of them have
been convicted, and thus have been redefined as criminals,
let's keep enforcing it."

I've never heard it put better.