Don,
"I live in Illinois, not Chicago"
Point taken
. Here's where I think you overstated things:
"In Illinois, for instance, you can legally carry any size knife you want, concealed any way you want, as long as you're not carrying it 'with intent to illegally harm another.'"
I think someone could take the phrase "In Illinois" to mean that you statement applies to the
entire state of Illinois. It simply does not. It applies only to those areas where there is no local ordinance to the contrary.
Chicago is one example. Johnsburg is another (Section 46.03(A) of the local code outright prohibits carrying a knife with a blade three inches or longer). Carbondale (330 miles south of Chicago
) is yet another example. While surely no model of statutory construction, section 14-4-5(A)(3) of the Carbondale code seems to prohibit possession of a knife of any blade length in a place licensed to sell intoxicating beverages, or at a public gathering where admission is charged (among other places, with exceptions).
I found these examples in a pretty quick search - I suspect I could find additional, similar provisions with more time.
I think this is important because, in my experience, a lot of folks don't realize that a state statute may be trumped by a more specific, obscure local regulation. It is completely reasonable to assume that if you are in compliance with ILCS, then you are good to go in the state of IL - - but the truth is, if you are not familiar with the idiosyncratic local rules in your area, you may expose yourself to prosecution.
A fantastically lousy system, to be sure. But one that I think people should be aware of and understand.
My apologies to the board for the thread drift