I've carried a pocketknife everyday of my life since I was a kid, but... I'm not sure this law is a good thing. It's already hard where I live to carry a pocketknife in many government buildings. Under this scenario, schools and government agencies will lobby the state hard for restrictions, and if they happen, they'll be statewide, not just in some municipalities.

State government exercising its power could be worse than local governments considering the issue independently.

As Bella points out, the knife is one of the most basic of human tools. Any kind of ban on knives makes no sense.
Roscoe, you make a good point but I disagree with your conclusion. Local governments tend to be much more restrictive than states in most cases. Also, a hodgepodge of different restrictions in each city or county makes it impossible for anyone to know the law--you cross the street into a different jurisdiction and your "legal" knife is now "illegal."

Frankly, if you can carry an axe, you should also be able to carry a sword, machete, bowie or other blade. While people get stuck and sliced with little tiny knives, axe murderers are actually scarce. As far as swords go I can think of only two recent murders committed with such (and of those, none were committed by trained martial artists, only by wannabe crazies). As such, statisticly speaking, they should let me wear my Daisho (long and short swords)in public, Us Iaidoka have as good a record for safety and respect for the common peace as any!

MLH, the state level is where this type of law should be decided. If the state doesn't regulate and pre-empt the cities from regulating (guns & knives or anything else), you get all the crazy local laws--like the Chicago & NYC gun laws. It's true that the states can over-regulate, but they already have that authority, subject only to the Constitution. In Florida, state statutes regulate all weapons, including guns and knives. The state law prohibits local governments from imposing any greater restrictions. I don't agree with all the state restrictions, but if they were repealed entirely, it would leave every city and county free to come up with their own hair-brained regulations.

After Mrs. Woods went after Tiger with the 9 iron just wait until they try to outlaw golf clubs. Now wouldn't that cause a stink.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/forums/survival/always-carry-good-knife

Though i agree with the need for this bill, and agree with both Roscoe and Bella, I am now wondering what else they are going to try to come in and regulate for me? The height of the flames of my campfire or BBQ? The length of time my son can burn his marsh mellows? I say just leave my rights alone, and you'll keep your job.