Illegal Kitty Keychain

[Jusme]

That keychain was made specifically as a weapon, like brass knuckles or dagger, not a keychain that "could" be used as one. While a dagger is legal, the resemblance of brass knuckles is not. If someone wants wants a similar item, just get a mini dagger and attach to keychain, purse or even carried in pocket.

https://www.dhgate.com/store/product/ne ... 49157.html

Or we could change the law.

All of these, and similar laws, do absolutely nothing to deter/prevent crime. All they are used for is an enhancement to another charge. All prohibitions, against inanament objects such as these, should be removed, just as the prohibitions, against certain types of knives, have been.
I have no use for brass knuckles, and probably would not carry, a kitty keychain, but I can see their use,as defensive tools, for those who, cannot carry guns, where they work.
These laws, for the most part were in response to the misuse, by a very small number of people, usually gang members, and were intended to provide prosecutors, a charge, to apply, when no actual crime, had been committed.

[Odinvalknir]

I'd like to see the brass knuckle law dropped, it's a stupid law, especially here in Tx where it's already legal to carry any size bladed weapon up to and including swords. It's fine to carry long guns (rifle/shotgun) in vehicle, it's legal to conceal a handgun in your car without license. Also I kind of feel if you acquire a LTC, it should cover things like knuckle dusters and certain types of hand weapons along with firearms.


I have a replica of a trench knife like those used by our military in the first World War, it's about a 8 or 9 inch blade attached to a handle that has knuckle guards on it. Lots of guys carry fixed blade knives, as well as folding knives along with their concealed carry pistols, and really I think a knife wound can a lot of times be worse and more deadly than a bullet wound.

[srothstein]

If you Google them they are sold everywhere as personal defense keychains and in my opinion, for what it's worth, they are an illegal (brass knuckles) weapon in Texas. I would not want to try to sway a jury that they were not a weapon after a Google search.

To clarify my earlier statement, I agree with you. If a seller advertises them as a weapon, then they are an illegal weapon when you buy them. If they advertise them, as a Hello Kitty novelty keychain, then they are not a weapon when you own them, just if you use them as a weapon. This is where the law that says designed or adapted comes in to make the determination. Sold as a weapon means designed that way. Sold as a novelty means adapted, which requires the use.

One of the tactical tricks I've read about is women should carry their keys in hand to smash into an attacker's face, thus protecting her.

So, given the above, she'd be in trouble if she defended herself in this manner?

Actually, this is when the defense of necessity comes in. Improvised weapons almost always can be justified if the defensive use of force is justified.

[TreyHouston]

“The Travis County Sheriff's Office said brass knuckles are growing in popularity amongst women.”

God forbid women protect themselves! If it stops ONE rape or assault, I think it should be allowed!

[lama]

“The Travis County Sheriff's Office said brass knuckles are growing in popularity amongst women.”

God forbid women protect themselves! If it stops ONE rape or assault, I think it should be allowed!

Careful with absolutes Eunuching all men would stop at least one rape.

I say this mostly in jest but there is a serious piece of limiting absolute claims. (I understand that context matters but something to keep in mind.)

Also, I agree the law is silly just like the automatic knives law that was recently overturned.

[LDB415]

Forget the questionable keychain, just get the key.

https://www.crkt.com/williams-tactical-key.html

[AndyC]

Or we could change the law.

DING-DING-DING!

Outlawing objects is as stupid as the Brits banning knives.

[apostate]

Forget the questionable keychain, just get the key.

https://www.crkt.com/williams-tactical-key.html

Something like this seems more useful.
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS43XL ... -ex-sheath

Of course, that means taking the mental step to intentionally carry a weapon for self defense.

[Interblog]

One of the tactical tricks I've read about is women should carry their keys in hand to smash into an attacker's face, thus protecting her.

So, given the above, she'd be in trouble if she defended herself in this manner?

To elaborate on what I suspect this poster is conveying, keys in hand means the fob(s) of the keys in the palm of the hand and the hand made into a fist with each key on the ring poking out from between each pair of fingers.

Self-defense sites typically pan this approach, but if I were left with no other option, I might give it a whirl. For example:

http://novaselfdefense.com/blog/can-my-keys-be-a-weapon

[LDB415]

Forget the questionable keychain, just get the key.

https://www.crkt.com/williams-tactical-key.html

Something like this seems more useful.
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS43XL ... -ex-sheath

Of course, that means taking the mental step to intentionally carry a weapon for self defense.

Yes, but then you have to be sure it's ok wherever you go etc. as well as figure out where to carry it etc.. The key just goes on the keyring and is always ready. Make a habit of carrying it in the ready position and there's not even any thinking required. I'm not sure how it would work during a TSA groping but other than that it's probably good to go anywhere.

[BBYC]

Or we could change the law.

Not really. Only the legislature can change the law.

But we can change the legislature, so there's that.

[apostate]

.

[SewTexas]

Kitty Keychains in the news again.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2 ... illips-mom

When a Carrollton police officer arrived, he said he believed she was fleeing the scene of an accident — which Phillips denies — and though she passed a sobriety test, she was arrested for failing to yield and booked into Carrollton City Jail.

Only then did the police discover the little pink key chain in her purse.

That's when Phillips was told "possession of a prohibited weapon," a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to $4,000 in fines and a year in jail, would be added to her arrest record.

oh geez

[Jusme]

Kitty Keychains in the news again.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2 ... illips-mom

When a Carrollton police officer arrived, he said he believed she was fleeing the scene of an accident — which Phillips denies — and though she passed a sobriety test, she was arrested for failing to yield and booked into Carrollton City Jail.

Only then did the police discover the little pink key chain in her purse.

That's when Phillips was told "possession of a prohibited weapon," a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to $4,000 in fines and a year in jail, would be added to her arrest record.

oh geez

Is it standard practice, to arrest someone on a failure to yield, traffic violation? And if she passed a field sobriety test, why was the officer, still concerned about her sobriety?
This sounds more like a case, of an officer, being angry, that she had gone into a business, rather than wait, in the heat, and traffic, for him to get there.

Since I doubt, that it is standard practice to arrest on a class c traffic violation, a good attorney, can get the UCW charge dismissed, since it was only discovered, as part of a search incident to arrest.

But these are the type of things, we need to push our State reps, to have repealed. Do they still believe, that people, are looking to start a "rumble" with brass knuckles, when they can carry a gun in their car, and anything up to and including, a Samarai sword, on their person at all times?

[BBYC]

after a few run-ins with the law for things like reckless driving and running when police broke up a party, she worries this arrest will hurt her future.

"I have been working to get my life back on the right track," Phillips said. "I feel like this is going to ruin my progress."

Maybe work a little harder?