From real firearms to bladed weapons, even to improper ones such as tools or stones… or “fake” ones, from Softair. Freedom is greater than it seems, but you have to be careful
February 14, 2023
Lsafety in the car priceless, even when it happens to carry, knowingly or otherwise in good faith, own or third-party objects which, in the event of checks by the police, require a plausible and reasonable reason, to avoid fines, seizures e complicated explanations far-fetched or perhaps real infringements of the laws and the Highway Code. We are not talking (only) of weapons, but also of flammable liquids, powders, objects that could – in the wrong context – be used, as the law says, “to offend”.
The first thing to do, if you run into a check, is politely warn the agent that there are “critical” objects on board, to immediately dispel the doubt that you want to hide something. In the event of a dispute, calmly explain the reasons for the transport, the origin and destination and who is the owner. If you have just been to a flea market and you have a medieval broadsword just purchased, better to have a receipt with you. And now, let’s see the categories for which the Police and the Carabinieri will gladly ask you a few more questions.
The law is clear, but not 100%
PAs regards the (legitimate) transport of a firearm by car, the laws and jurisprudence are a bit complex but well established and all concerned – even the police forces – often refer to a well-known site (“Encyclopedia of Weapons” edited by former Judge Edoardo Mori) which collects all the past and present legislation. The question becomes a little more complicated for “non-fire” or “non-shooting” weapons) such as “white” and improper ones they are hardly accepted with the excuse of self-defense, at least as long as they are on the person concerned whether it is the trunk or the back seat of the car? So let’s see which “weapons” we can safely carry with us, which ones need a specific authorization and which ones are strictly linked to the surrounding situation.
Weapons
Lhe simplest category to deal with is precisely the one that would appear to be the most delicate, simply because on a legal level it is the one most surrounded by clear legislation. Not only that, because the possession of a firearm is strictly regulated by specific permits which allow you to carry, for example, a gun for different reasons: hunting, self-defense, sports, sale, maintenance, etc.
Being the most regulated, this case is “almost” simple: it is sufficient to inquire about how to obtain licenses such as the license to carry firearms for personal defense use, for clay pigeon shooting, for collecting, with all the tests and bureaucracies in tow. Except in the case of personal defense (Police, armored personnel carriers, magistrates and other categories) almost all licenses require having the firearm disassembled or unloaded inside a suitcase or closed container, with the relative ammunition not in the magazine (would be at risk of “ready availability“) but in their specific packaging. And it is highly forbidden leave these weapons unattended inside the car.
Blank weapons
IThe second step is that of blank weapons, useful for repelling the bad intentions of some delinquent before he can get close. They cannot hurt and are available to unrestricted sale comparable to real firearms, as well as ammunition. From 1st July 2011 the law prohibits the distribution of blank weapons with front gas vent, leaving room only for those with vent top/side. Anyway, if you have one in the trunk, better justify yourself. Same thing for the reproductions of weapons, used in activities such as airsoft: they are identical to the real ones, often also as regards the materials of composition, so much so that they can be confused, but of course they are loaded with decidedly non-lethal pellets. If used outside special spaces dedicated to airsoft war simulations, however, the red spout on the barrel remains mandatory in order to distinguish it from a real weapon. Be careful, because it’s not just a matter of safety and “control” for public officials: pointing a toy gun with a repainted red nose so as to make it invisible can lead to serious charges, comparable to intimidation with a real firearm.
White weapons
IThe bladed weapons chapter is mainly aimed at tools with a sharp blade, thus leaving out tools that would have very few other uses outside of hand-to-hand combat. We are therefore talking about swords and sabers for sports use, but also knives of various kinds – from the Swiss to the kitchen one. The subject in this case becomes delicate, because the white weapon it is considered a full-fledged weapon or not depending on the situation. That is to say that if you are in the middle of a move and you have a box full of knives in the trunk, the problem does not arise. However, if I have a sharp tactical knife in the glove compartment in the car, the situation obviously changes. The point therefore would seem to be “logic” rather than law, considering the many different reasons why you might find yourself carrying blades in your car. Having a knife in the luggage compartment shouldn’t be a problem, also because its location would make it not of “ready availability”. Anyway a knife can be a source of misunderstandings, misunderstandings and possible problems… the excuse of “I made a salami sandwich” it seems to be not good: years ago an investigation ascertained that “the absence of bread and salami could not prove that the intended use of that knife was that” and oh well that the interested party could have eaten it, but it all seemed like an excuse for a very questionable car transport.
Improper weapons
PMore simple but still complicated is the question of improper weapons. First of all let’s start with one semi-definition:
“Any tool clearly intended to offend someone is categorized as an improper weapon.”
The problem is that this definition means everything and it means nothingbecause of that detail “clearly intended for the purpose of offending”. How do you understand that an object not equipped with blades (which would otherwise be a white weapon) is intended for the purpose of offending? Hammers, golf or baseball clubs, big wrenches, how are they considered? The speech must therefore be divided into two parts based on the circumstance in which it is controlled. Obviously, a single golf club thrown at random in the trunk can cause suspicion, as well as a “lone” wrench. So we have on the one hand the absurd cases, such as the two just mentioned, and on the other those that can actually make sense. For example, having a baseball bat in the trunk will be less suspicious than a golf club which is rarely found on its own because it usually fits in a bag with its siblings. Likewise, a set of 10 screwdrivers and 10 wrenches will easily go unnoticed in a trunk.
More or less blunt objects also fall into this category that may come to mind, such as a stone which could potentially be an improper weapon in some circumstances.
Not forbidden, but “suspicious”
CAnyone can find themselves carrying objects in the car that are definitely not prohibited, but depending on the context they could be a cause of misunderstanding and suspicion of a check. Not an uncommon case it is the transportation of gasoline which is a highly flammable dangerous liquid and must be stored and transported carefully and properly. A petrol can in the trunk does not cause problems or misunderstandings during a check, unless you are in an area prone to fires, but it is important to use the safety containers and not the empty plastic bottle. The ideal is to limit the quantity to 10 liters and use metal cans, also because the transport of larger quantities can cause suspicion of smuggling of petroleum products.
