What defines a "weapon"?

johnfarber2000

A weapon is a tool which is intended to or is used to cure, help a person or an animal, damage or destroy property, or to otherwise render resources non-functional or unavailable. Weapons may be used to attack and defend, and consequently also to threaten or protect.
How about this: GWB best weapon against the democrats is to inculcate fear of terror to the population.

5han3

The question of "what is a weapon"? is commonly asked. Although this is a bit more of an opiniated question, I think it would be a good idea to answer this on a legal standpoint, persay? Well, dictionary.com's defintion of a weapon is-

"anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim".

My opinion would be not to carry anything illegal, such as an unconcealed 9mm pistol (silenced or not), or a knife bigger than 3 to 5 inches. Again, a legal standpoint is the best way to go on this question.

Well, hope that is of some help to you.
God Bless!

~Radio

One Wing

"Weapon" in legal terms is a moving target. The obvious guns and knifes make up a very small % of weapons. Ball bats, lamps, statues, pieces of pipe, the list goes on forever. How about peanuts or lobster? These are two that come to mind as being deadly to people who have a severe allergic reaction. If you knowingly slip a substance to a person that you know has a severe allergy to that substance, you have turned two of my favorite foods into a murder weapon. With pro fighters, their hand hands have been ruled lethal weapons in certain cases. Interesting question. I hope it was hypothetical and I did not give someone any ideas!

john c

Any object or thing used to injure or kill, or inflict bodily damage upon another person may be classified as a weapon. Example, the hands of a black belt martial arts person, could be classified as a deadly weapon. An umbrella, when jabbed into someone's stomach is certainly a weapon. Also, remember, if an adversary has a baseball bat, swinging it at you,trying to kill you, then you have the right to use deadly force to protect yourself. If someone is coming at me with an edged weapon (knife), I will stop his action by shooting him with my 40 cal. S&W semi-automatic firearm. If Ron Goldman had a gun on the night he was murdered by the scumbag, O.J. Simpson, he probably would have saved his own life, and the life of his friend, Nicole Simpson. Unfortunately, neither victim had a weapon for self defense to use against the moronic, maniac attacker.

producer_vortex

Anything that will maim or kill.

Kitchen knives, baseball bats, crowbars, hammers, etc,etc,
etc.

Sarge

Any thing could be a weapon and others are defined as deadly weapons by law. They include firearms, knives etc.

trueblue3167

A device which can inflict bodily injury or death on another

FLOYD W

A weapon is defined as any object that could be used to injure,stab or wound another person, a spoon can be considered a weapon if the person knows how to use it as a weapon.

ccdispatch911

ANYTHING used to harm another is a weapon. Anything can be turned into a weapon. If you use your CAR to purposely hurt someone it becomes a weapon.

Steven C

in Arizona it is anything that can inflict bodily harm or be used to attempt to inflict bodily harm. IE a large stick could be a weapon if swung at someone and you are not playing a baseball game.

msquitacat

In the jurisdiction where I work, the charges are listed with the type of weapon. Over the years I have seen ADW (Assault with a Dangerous Weapon) Knife, ADW Gun, ADW Dagger, ADW Chair, ADW Umbrella, ADW Shod Foot, ADW Sword, ADW Scissors, ADW Pencil and so on. So really anything is a weapon, it's how you use it. Let's not forget the weapons that prisoners make out of toothbrushes, mop handles, bed springs and whatever else they find. Mike Tyson's fist is a dangerous weapon, just because he has the specialized training to use it in that way. Hope this helps.

Blue Steel & Lace

Any tool or device that can be used to inflict injury or death.

Zeo

Basically anything that can cause bodily harm or death. That includes anything from a gun to a blade of grass(ever been cut with grass? it's like a paper cut.) We had a kid brought into jail for assault with a water hose, squirted a friend with water. Funny but true.

*****

Anything can be considered a weapon, when used to assault, or in an attempt to kill another. Schools and airlines have now considered fingernail files, and nail clippers weapons. Mind boggling.

gremlingts

A former co-worker said he has had his hands legally tagged as "lethal" weapons by law enforcement, he said he is a martial arts expert, has been in fights to the point of breaking bones, and the police told him his hands were now considered Lethal Weapons under the law, and if he was caught fighting, he would be charged ( this is in Virginia, USA ). I have NO way of confirming that at this time, but if you are extremely good ( and either violent, or get into bad situations all the time, not necessarily of your own chosing ), you could have body parts declared lethal ( not illegal, they can't cut your hands off! ) weapons, and make you responsible for your actions ( you should be anyway, whether using a gun, knife, car, or hands to hurt someone ). So, it doesn't even require an external device, if you know how to hurt someone and will do so willingly.
Like the Yahooers said before me, anything can be used as a weapon, some are just designed to be so from the start.
- The Gremlin -

(Chaise) s.

A weapon is anything that a person can use to harm another person.

answerteam

Any device which can inflict serious bodily injury or death on another.

SecretUser

I just don't know? thanks and God Bless you!

lonewolf1

Gotta go with the first answer,,it is said perfect,,,

bigmikejones

Anything that can inflict great bodily harm or cause death is considered a weapon. Knives, guns, baseball bats, 2 X 4"s, bottles, and the biggie, vehicles.

This is a partial list and if you go by your neighborhood ER on Friday and Saturday night, you will see the results of many of these weapons being used on other people.

You don't have to have a gun to kill someone, but when a gun is used, people yell for banning them. More people are killed in or by 3,000 lb missiles called cars and trucks, than guns and knives.

auhunter04

there is no such thing as a dangerous weapon, only dangerous people. Weapons are implemented, placed, controlled E.T.C by people, not themselves. I have yet to hear of a gun killing someone that was not set up by a person either by direct use or in a trap. Think about it, ever see a kitchen knife crawl down off the counter top and into the bedroom and plunge itself multilpe times into someone. Another good one, how about land mines, bet they decided to build themselves and go dig a hole where a person will be walking so they will blow up.

Black Jacque Chirac

Depends on the State as the guy above me said. In Arizona there are two types Deadly and Dangerous weapons.

Deadly is anything specifically designed to kill humans. I.e. firearms, bayonets, swords, canisters of mustard gas, etc.

Dangerous is anything else that increases the severity of an assault. I.e. club, other knives, broken bottle, rocks, madonna music, etc.

? Stormy Weathers?

Trueblue, ccdispatcher....why cant they charge brainwashers with intent to harm with a dangerous weapon(their mind)?
k...you cant thumbs down a question

fr_chuck

actually the state defines it in legal code, and then it is refined by legal action and appeals.

So what could be a weapon in Alabama may not be in New York

conan luv

protection.

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