Are Whips actually legal?

From falls & poppers to plaiting & cracking technique, this section is dedicated in memory of Sergei, IndyGear Staff Member and Whip Guru. Always remember to keep "Celebratin' Life!"

Moderator: BullWhipBorton

Post Reply
Obiwampa
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Toledo, Oh.

Are Whips actually legal?

Post by Obiwampa »

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).
User avatar
Sergei
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:44 am
Location: Off the grid, in from the cold - Jack's Canyon ~1119
Contact:

Post by Sergei »

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
User avatar
midwestwhips
Vendor
Posts: 504
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2003 2:31 pm
Location: Hollywood, CA
Contact:

Post by midwestwhips »

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
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 658
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:49 pm
Location: Athens, Ohio
Contact:

Post by thefish »

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
User avatar
Kris
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 438
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2004 8:05 pm
Contact:

Post by Kris »

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. :)
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

'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. :twisted: I'm not going to point that out to HR, though. :roll:
Claymore
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:52 pm
Location: ATL

Post by Claymore »

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.

:lol:
User avatar
VP
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3812
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:14 am
Location: Espoo, Finland
Contact:

Post by VP »

The_Edge
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 535
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 3:46 pm
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Contact:

Post by The_Edge »

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
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:52 pm
Location: ATL

Post by Claymore »

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'.

:wink:
Serial Hero
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 553
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:27 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Post by Serial Hero »

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? :shock:
User avatar
English Whip Maker
Archaeology Student
Archaeology Student
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:11 am
Location: London
Contact:

Post by English Whip Maker »

Serial Hero wrote:Cops come into your store and shoplift? What is this world coming to? :shock:
Yeah, I was wondering about that! :lol:

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
User avatar
Kt Templar
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 4715
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:32 am
Location: London.

Post by Kt Templar »

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?!
User avatar
English Whip Maker
Archaeology Student
Archaeology Student
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:11 am
Location: London
Contact:

Post by English Whip Maker »

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
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

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
User avatar
Kt Templar
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 4715
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:32 am
Location: London.

Post by Kt Templar »

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!) :twisted:
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

hehehe...if you haven't read the Dirk Gently novels, you should. ;)
User avatar
Kt Templar
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 4715
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:32 am
Location: London.

Post by Kt Templar »

Ah, you have "a brain the size of a planet" Mr Jerry.
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

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. ;)
User avatar
Snakewhip_Sable
Scoundrel
Posts: 2256
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
Contact:

Post by Snakewhip_Sable »

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.
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

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
Vendor
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:39 pm
Location: Australia!
Contact:

Post by Janine Fraser »

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
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:25 am
Location: Toledo, Oh.

Post by Obiwampa »

:shock:


ute?
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

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
Vendor
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:39 pm
Location: Australia!
Contact:

Post by Janine Fraser »

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 :wink:

Hooroo
Janine
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

I've seen that designation used in the US, too, for smaller SUVs.
User avatar
Michaelson
Knower of Things
Posts: 44484
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando

Post by Michaelson »

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
User avatar
Indiana Jerry
Scoundrel
Posts: 4684
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: DBSSWWD ~ "This is how we say goodbye to MIMES in Germany!"
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jerry »

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? :wink:

J
User avatar
Sergei
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:44 am
Location: Off the grid, in from the cold - Jack's Canyon ~1119
Contact:

Post by Sergei »

Well maybe Janine can clarify what does the term, Shiela mean? 8)
<Sergei ducks behind the Ute as the extra large can of Foster's misses his head>[/i]
Janine Fraser
Vendor
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:39 pm
Location: Australia!
Contact:

Post by Janine Fraser »

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 :wink: Thanks for the laugh!

Hoo Roo

Janine Fraser
User avatar
Snakewhip_Sable
Scoundrel
Posts: 2256
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
Contact:

Post by Snakewhip_Sable »

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.
User avatar
Sergei
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2047
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:44 am
Location: Off the grid, in from the cold - Jack's Canyon ~1119
Contact:

Post by Sergei »

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 :wink: Thanks for the laugh!

Hoo Roo

Janine Fraser
I have always been a bloody bloke. :wink: 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.
Post Reply