Owen Sparks
member
- Joined
- May 27, 2007
- Messages
- 4,523
Our local hospital has a strict no weapons policy in the Emergency Room. there have been several incidents in the past where people brought in after being injured in fights continued it in the ER so the security is tight with several uniformed guards on duty and walk through metal detectors at the door and a big sign that says:
NO WEAPONS ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT.
Recently a family member was hospitalized and I visited frequently. I always carry a folding Emerson knife and that is not a problem in the rest of the hospital but late at night the main entrance closes and the only way in is through the ER door and the metal detector.
I was not about to leave a $200 + knife in the hands of stranger for several hours as it might disappear during a shift change so at night I just left it in the car. One night I decided that I would bring my “walking stick” in just to see what the guards reaction to it might be. This thing is a heavy three foot long piece of Osage orange with a big rude knob for a handle that could easily smash a skull. A stick like this is a far more formidable weapon than any knife in a brawl yet the security guards did not even give it a second glance even though I am relatively young, in shape and I was not limping, just carrying it in my hand. They made me empty my pockets of all metal objects and put my keys and phone in a tray and walk through the metal detector but no one asked to examine the substantial piece of lumber in my hand.
This little experiment says a lot about the way people view inanimate objects. Knives and guns are prohibited because bad people misuse them but walking sticks have no such evil image because normally old people use them as a crutch and their potential for use as a weapon does not register with most people, even the professional security guards who would not let my brother bring his tiny key chain pen knife in.
NO WEAPONS ALLOWED BEYOND THIS POINT.
Recently a family member was hospitalized and I visited frequently. I always carry a folding Emerson knife and that is not a problem in the rest of the hospital but late at night the main entrance closes and the only way in is through the ER door and the metal detector.
I was not about to leave a $200 + knife in the hands of stranger for several hours as it might disappear during a shift change so at night I just left it in the car. One night I decided that I would bring my “walking stick” in just to see what the guards reaction to it might be. This thing is a heavy three foot long piece of Osage orange with a big rude knob for a handle that could easily smash a skull. A stick like this is a far more formidable weapon than any knife in a brawl yet the security guards did not even give it a second glance even though I am relatively young, in shape and I was not limping, just carrying it in my hand. They made me empty my pockets of all metal objects and put my keys and phone in a tray and walk through the metal detector but no one asked to examine the substantial piece of lumber in my hand.
This little experiment says a lot about the way people view inanimate objects. Knives and guns are prohibited because bad people misuse them but walking sticks have no such evil image because normally old people use them as a crutch and their potential for use as a weapon does not register with most people, even the professional security guards who would not let my brother bring his tiny key chain pen knife in.
) It has (I think; I don't have it right now) 4 "blades" on the end, which are pretty much just 4 fins that are semi edged. If anything I can get my hands onto will hurt an attacker, it will be this flashlight.
