Are Whips actually legal?

Obiwampa · Post by **Obiwampa** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:06 pm

Has anyone ever checked to see if whips are legal? Can you just carry them around wherever you want? I'm sure it varys from state to state, just like handguns, but I wouldnt even know where to begin looking to find out for sure. I would assume that since they are so obscure and almost forgotten that they would most likely have been overlooked as a weapon.

I suppose I'll just ask a cop the next time I see one at work. I work retail so we have cops coming in all the time,(shoplifters).

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:43 pm

In my experience, there are not that many places in the US that ban the use of bullwhips outdoors. When an officer drops by to see me whipcracking I make sure my attitude is parked. I am polite and courteous. When the conversation switches to the whip, I politely state that the whips in general are classified as "agricultural" tools and not weapons. I carry a few business cards around that show my professional affiliation with the WWAC (Wild West Arts Club), APWA (Australian Plaiters and Whipcracking Assoc). In general, they leave me alone. But I avoid crowded parks and tend to go to less frequented areas like industrial parks over the weekend or corners of soccer fields. Kids, dogs, horses are usually bad combinations when whipcracking, so just use your common sense.

However, to be on the safeside, call the local sheriff's office and double check if there is anything in the books that prevents you from whipcracking. But again, play up being poite, friendly, throw the "agricultural tool" and not a weapon line on them and if they ask you to move along, then do so.

-Sergei

midwestwhips · Post by **midwestwhips** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:59 pm

Hey Obiwampa,

I've gotten pulled over once or twice with a whip or two in the car, and aside from the first weird look, it doesn't seem to be a problem once I explain why I have one. Just like Sergei said, just be courtious and as long as you don't have a warrent out for your arrest, or anything you should be fine.

I did ask a cop one time if they were considered weapons, and she said that like a baseball bat, it's not considered a weapon unless you use it on someone.

Regards,

Paul Nolan
MidWestWhips

thefish · Post by **thefish** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:46 pm

Ohio Revised Code is like that, I checked not too long ago. Yes the whip is a agricultural tool, but if used as a weapon, it is classified as a weapon. I think most states are like this now. Can't exactly ban box cutters and nail guns from construction sites, can we? Can't exactly ban pencils from classrooms.

However, on the same count, in Ohio, if I was to go out and murder someone, say with a potato chip, then by law, the potato chip would be considered a deadly weapon. So, no. Not really a problem carrying one, just don't be a dork about it and ask for trouble.

All the best, and happy new year!

-Dan

Kris · Post by **Kris** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:48 pm

Belgium law have no mention of whips as weapons, and are ok to be used everywere, however, you can be charged with 'street noice'.

Can't wait untill I have mine.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:31 am

'Agricultural tool'. That's a better term...I've been saying 'farm tool', but for some reason from me it sounds flippant...I'll try 'agricultural tool'. Thanks, Sergei.

J

P.S. I even checked the fine print in my company's policy book before one Halloween costume party in the office, and gosh, whips aren't explicitly prohibited.

I'm not going to point that out to HR, though.

Claymore · Post by **Claymore** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:26 am

thefish wrote:However, on the same count, in Ohio, if I was to go out and murder someone, say with a potato chip, then by law, the potato chip would be considered a deadly weapon.

...I support a 10 day waiting period on Doritos and a limit to bag size of no more than 8 ozs. Think of the children.

VP · Post by VP » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:18 am

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8288955/

The_Edge · Post by **The_Edge** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:51 am

I carry a bullwhip on my person quite often in very public settings and have yet to encounter any law enforcement opposition. Of course, I'm not doing anything to attract attention to it either. This past Summer I walked right through a security check at the State Fair twice with a whip in the cargo pocket of my pants and the handle protruding out. Of the thousands of people at the fair I only had one fellow inquire about it.

I carry a whip while hiking and I also crack as far away as possible from folks while practicing at public parks. I've only had a couple LEOs stop by to see what the racket was and we chatted for a bit and that was that. I'm also very friendly and helpful to people that come over and ask questions. If I don't present a threat then they won't report a problem. I will often times give them demos and teach them a basic crack or two just to inform them a bit more and put them at ease.

Since my folks travel a lot, my Mom carries a whip with her as primarily a blackjack. Many states and cities outlaw saps and blackjacks but I have never read any law prohibiting the carrying of whips.

Claymore · Post by **Claymore** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:21 pm

The_Edge wrote: Many states and cities outlaw saps and blackjacks but I have never read any law prohibiting the carrying of whips.

Never underestimate the determination of a media seeking prosecutor during an election year....I'm jus' sayin'.

Serial Hero · Post by **Serial Hero** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:47 pm

I did read some where that drive by floggings have become a major concern lately.

I work retail so we have cops coming in all the time,(shoplifters).

Cops come into your store and shoplift? What is this world coming to?

English Whip Maker · Post by **English Whip Maker** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:09 pm

Serial Hero wrote:Cops come into your store and shoplift? What is this world coming to?

Yeah, I was wondering about that!

In the UK, the law is pretty much the same as other people have described.

I only know of one incident where police treated a bullwhip as a weapon, having had some kind of complaint about the person using it in his local park, and after some discussion the officers were persuaded that he was within his rights to be doing what he was doing.

I am occasionally approached by people who want a whip for self defence, but there's no right to bear arms (bare arms?) here, even in defence of your home and family. Owning or carrying a whip, in anticipation of using it in a confrontation, turns it into an offensive weapon in the eyes of the law. I explain this, and suggest they go learn a martial art and/or take to carrying a walking stick.

Dave
English Whips
www.whipstore.com

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:04 pm

English Whip Maker wrote:I explain this, and suggest they go learn a martial art and/or take to carrying a walking stick.

Mmm... must service my poison pellet umbrella. Did I say that out loud?!

English Whip Maker · Post by **English Whip Maker** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:42 am

Kt Templar wrote:
English Whip Maker wrote:I explain this, and suggest they go learn a martial art and/or take to carrying a walking stick.
Mmm... must service my poison pellet umbrella. Did I say that out loud?!

Well yes, it does sound a bit comic book.....

but truth is sometimes stranger than fiction! Last year, I was approached to assist in making an umbrella for a lady who would be travelling alone in remote parts of the world and wanted some way of protecting herself in locations where it would have been unacceptable for a woman to openly carry a weapon (ie most places in the world).

IIRC, an original plan to fit a slim blade in the 'shaft' of the umbrella had been (very sensibly) rejected and the enquiry was to see if I could make a very small whip instead. I pointed out some design and practical issues, and we knocked around some ideas about fibre glass and metal rods, but I wasn't convinced by the project for various reasons; the main two being that it wasn't clear whether or not she had the knowledge to use such a thing effectively and that I was reluctant to supply something that could land her in all kinds of trouble in most parts of the world, if it's nature was discovered.

Maybe I should have suggested a CO2 cartidge in the handle and a small supplier of tranquilizer darts in the tip?!

Still, mad dogs and english(wo)men

Dave
www.whipstore.com

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:57 pm

Stranger still, the umbrella HAS been used for assassination; KT, were you referring to this?

http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/stude ... eorgie.htm

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:49 pm

Yup! Shhhh! You'll blow my cover!

You should know by now that many of my posts will have an obscure reference to something only tenuously related. It's about the interconnectivity of all things. (That's one for you Erri!)

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:52 pm

hehehe...if you haven't read the Dirk Gently novels, you should.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 6:08 pm

Ah, you have "a brain the size of a planet" Mr Jerry.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 6:53 pm

Pain? Don't talk to me about pain...I have a terrible pain in all the diodes running down my left side...

...hmm, no whips in those two series...nope, can't get back on topic. Okay, I'm out.

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:47 pm

Was there every any hassle about whip cracking in the park by the Queen Mary? It would've thought there would be, what with so many people doing that at once.

Then again, a bunch of caucasians in funny hats in LA would largely be left alone, I'd guess.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:10 pm

Nope, no problem. Last year there was almost no one about, but this year there was a LOT of pedestrian traffice walking by, and never an issue, never saw a cop or anybody else. Just a half dozen bystanders who stopped to watch at one point or another.

Janine Fraser · Post by **Janine Fraser** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:57 pm

G'day

Thought I would put a little post in here. I find this very fascinating that you have to worry about where you carry a whip. Maybe im a lucky bugger in that I live in the bush and don't get to too many major cities where people may think untoward in regards to the carrying of a whip. I did a demonstration only a month ago in Myers and I did get a few strange looks walking with Akubra on my noggin and whips in hand through the plaza area, but I think they were more looking at this person with a Hat on their head in town!!!!
I tell ya I would be buggered if I did get pulled over by the coppers and asked "what do you have a whip in my Ute for madam" ....cause he wouldn't just find one...there would be a whole bloody bag full of them. Haha I suppose I could always tell the copper that "well this whip is used so the heifers know which way to go when droving them and this whip is to tell the bullocks to go the opposite way, and another whip is to get the dog to speak up and another whip is for........" gee I think I would have a bit of explaining to do with my bag and Ute full of whips.

Hope you understand my aussie way of thinking and also to put a little opposite side of the world aspect and humour on this topic. As I said I don't live in the city so it could be totally different there for me and maybe I would have the same things asked to me by a law enforcing officer as others do! Who knows!

Hooroo
Janine

Obiwampa · Post by **Obiwampa** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:20 am

ute?

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:26 am

It's sort of a car/pickup combination vehicle (at least the one's I've seen) . Pretty neat too. Wish we could get them up here in the U.S.

Regard! Michaelson

Janine Fraser · Post by **Janine Fraser** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:26 pm

A Ute is a Utility vehicle with tray, commonly know as a pick-up truck in your area i think!

I'll have to work on my translation

Hooroo
Janine

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:00 pm

I've seen that designation used in the US, too, for smaller SUVs.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:04 pm

I've only seen them referred to as such in the US on certain Dodge and Plymouth vehicles that were produced in the late 40's, and early 50's. They actually looked different than a standard pickup of the time, and more like the front end of a standard passenger car, but with the backend of a pickup. Really odd looking vehicle.

Regards! Michaelson

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:17 pm

I was reading through a Consumer Report car book...they'd lumped a bunch of the smaller SUVs like the Rav-4, CRV, and even the X-Terra into what they called a 'Mini-UTE' category. Odd.

A google turned up usage of the term like this article...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Dr ... leId=48575

Like I said, odd, that it gets used, but not in the common vernacular. Is it just car people trying to sound smart?

J

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:31 pm

Well maybe Janine can clarify what does the term, Shiela mean?

<Sergei ducks behind the Ute as the extra large can of Foster's misses his head>[/i]

Janine Fraser · Post by **Janine Fraser** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:17 pm

Hahah good on ya Sergei! Well mate that depends on which meaning your after and since ......"you are the Sheila hiding behind the Ute". The first meaning is that .... You are being a "Sheila:"which is a man who is weak, lacking in bravado! 2. And more appropriately ..a young woman, girl!

Hope that has shed some light to a cheeky comment! hahah

Thanks for the laugh!

Hoo Roo

Janine Fraser

Snakewhip_Sable · Post by **Snakewhip_Sable** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:41 pm

Janine Fraser wrote:A Ute is a Utility vehicle with tray, commonly know as a pick-up truck in your area i think!

I thought it was how Joe Pesci pronounced the word 'youth', whilst in court.

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:45 pm

Janine Fraser wrote:Hahah good on ya Sergei! Well mate that depends on which meaning your after and since ......"you are the Sheila hiding behind the Ute". The first meaning is that .... You are being a "Sheila:"which is a man who is weak, lacking in bravado! 2. And more appropriately ..a young woman, girl!

Hope that has shed some light to a cheeky comment! hahah Thanks for the laugh!

Hoo Roo

Janine Fraser

I have always been a bloody bloke.

I would have blocked the flying Foster's with my noggin. Torn the top right off with my eye teeth and said something like. "air mail" in Australian.