Credit card knives could lead to concealed weapon charge, say RCMP
Nova Scotia RCMP say anyone caught in this province with a credit card knife may face a concealed weapon charge, but stopped short of saying they would charge the people who sell them.
Last week, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary seized dozens of credit card knives, which are retractable blades that can fold into the shape and size of a credit card.
They warned the device is considered an illegal weapon and anyone caught with one will face a concealed weapons charge because the blades are smaller than 30 centimetres in length and don't resemble a knife until unfolded.
Cpl. Greg Church, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia RCMP, said this province's laws on concealed weapons are also governed by the Criminal Code. Concealed weapons charges are usually handled on an individual basis, he said.
"Every case is different," he said.
"Depending upon the scenario, and if the police lay a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, then the circumstances behind the scenario would allow police enough information to lay the charge under that section."
The manager of Showcase, a store in the Halifax Shopping Centre that sells retractable knives, said to her knowledge no laws are broken by selling the knife at the store.
"That type of product, that type of info is researched by our head office," Laura Dockrill said. "By the time we get it, they've gone through all those stages."
Dockrill said her store started stocking Micro Knives last month. She says they're not advertised as weapons, but instead marketed similarly to pocket knives.
"They're showing on the packaging that they're using it in tackle boxes, to open envelopes, to cut fabric, to open boxes like as a box cutter," she said. "That's where they're coming from with the product."
