The word "brass knuckles" came to our country from France. Literally from French, this name of cold steel is translated as “I puzzle”, which is fully consistent with the damage that can be caused by this device. From the point of view of self-defense, brass knuckles is a reliable thing and is not inferior to any other cold steel. To some, carrying such an “accessory” in their pocket seems courageous and beautiful.
What about the legality of the acquisition, its wearing and, most curiously, the use of such a thing "in business"? Brass knuckles banned or not? Does Russia have any responsibility for wearing or using brass knuckles in a dangerous situation that poses a threat to health and life?
Brass knuckles is a weapon?
The very concept of “brass knuckles” includes an object made of solid and durable material, most often metal, intended for contact hand-to-hand (fist) combat. For the use of brass knuckles, it is clamped in the hand or put on the fingers, which, in general, is not important. The “impact” part of the device can be smooth or additionally studded. Based on this description, the category of brass knuckles can be attributed to special gloves, intentionally equipped with metal elements in the fingers.
As can be seen from the description, brass knuckles does not belong to the pneumatic or firearms type of weapon, is not equipped with a cutting or stabbing blade for causing serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries. So why is brass knuckles prohibited? Or is there no legislative restriction in Russia prohibiting the carrying of such a device?
The Law of the Russian Federation “On Weapons” directly relates brass knuckles to objects that are specifically used as shock-crushing weapons. Article 6 of this law prohibits any circulation of this type of knives. What does this mean in practice for a person who already has such a weapon or is only planning to acquire it?
Ban on brass knuckles: is it realistic to get a license?
There is an unequivocal and categorical answer to the question about such a "weapon of self-defense" as brass knuckles: "Is this item forbidden or not in Russia in any form?" Yes, brass knuckles is prohibited in our country by law. There are no exceptions similar to those provided for in the Federal Law for other types of cold weapons for brass knuckles. Neither as civilian (private) weapons, nor even whiter in the role of service brass knuckles are used. And if the law provides for the acquisition of a permit (license) for cold hunting weapons, then such a document is not issued for brass knuckles.
Buying, selling, donating brass knuckles - how legal is this?
The absolute ban prescribed by the current laws of the Russian Federation on the sale of brass knuckles as a cold weapon entails liability, administrative and, in some cases, criminal, in case of violation. If a person, despite legislative prohibitions, nevertheless decided to purchase this particular kind of knives, what kind of brass knuckles will be?
In Russia, liability for arms trafficking and violation of weapons laws is provided for in the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses.
The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, namely article 222, criminal liability provides only for the sale of cold steel, which includes all types of brass knuckles. Moreover, the word "sales" means not only trade, but also situations where brass knuckles were presented as a gift. For such illegal actions you can get a criminal record. The criminal penalties provided for are: compulsory labor (up to 480 hours), corrective or compulsory labor (from one to two years), arrest for a term of at least three months and up to six months, restriction or imprisonment of up to two years with a monetary fine.
For the acquisition of brass knuckles in any way, criminal liability is not provided. The maximum how you can “suffer” precisely for the purchase is the seizure of brass knuckles by the police.
Storage brass knuckles
Of course, the acquisition of brass knuckles implies that the owner will at least keep this self-defense item at home. This logically raises the question: if no tangible punishment has been established for the purchase, is it forbidden to store brass knuckles or not? In Russia, as is already known, criminal liability comes only for the sale of such items. But in the Code of Administrative Violations, the reasons and the amount of punishment for those who store such weapons in their homes are indicated. What awaits those who have brass knuckles at home? Article 20.8. Part 4 states that a violation of the storage rules of any weapon by an individual will entail:
- seizure of brass knuckles;
- payment of a fine from 500 to 2000 rubles;
- temporary deprivation of the right to subsequently legally acquire, store and carry weapons, a short period of time - from six months to one year.
Wearing brass knuckles
Of course, when brass knuckles are bought, it is rarely a matter of simple storage. A similar thing, rather compact, albeit heavy, is often taken with them, supposedly "for self-defense".
What is meant by the term "wearing"? At that moment, when a citizen leaves the borders of his place of residence with a brass knuckles in his hands, the "possession" of this cold steel becomes a "carrying".
But is it possible to wear brass knuckles in Russia without being prosecuted? There is no criminal liability for this, but the administrative liability that arises under Article 20.8 above also applies to carrying the brass knuckles with you. The penalties for storage and wearing are absolutely identical.
Brass knuckles in a car
Separately, it is worth considering such a common situation when brass knuckles are not, for example, in a citizen’s pocket or in a bag that is carried with them, but lies in the glove compartment or any other place in a personal car. At the same time, the owner is completely law-abiding and does not threaten anyone with this dangerous “accessory”, holding brass knuckles, as they say, “just in case”. Are brass knuckles banned in Russia as such a "motorist companion"?
It is impossible to carry brass knuckles in vehicles. Legislative transportation of brass knuckles in direct access, as, for example, under the driver's seat or in the glove compartment, can be qualified as "wearing". The sanctions in connection with the transportation of brass knuckles are the same: seizure and a fine, with the possible temporary deprivation of the right to acquire arms legally.
Import into the country through a customs point
As for the situation when brass knuckles are not being transported in vehicles, but transported through customs at the airport. Most often, this happens when brass knuckles are brought from overseas trips as a souvenir.
The carriage of brass knuckles is completely excluded in hand luggage, that is, in a bag that is allowed to be taken with you to the cabin of the aircraft, because the passenger is examined before boarding. However, someone can bring brass knuckles in the luggage. If such a “souvenir” is discovered at customs, the brass knuckles are subject to Russian law, which provides for the baggage owner with negative consequences in the form of seizure of brass knuckles, a fine and the loss of several hours for drawing up an administrative violation report.
However, the situation may become much worse for those who do not import, but export brass knuckles abroad. In a number of countries criminal prosecution is still in force for storing and wearing brass knuckles , up to a prison term.
"Hand made": if the brass knuckles are made by yourself
If the administrative article for brass knuckles in Russia (for carrying and storing this type of weapon) provides for rather mild sanctions, this does not mean a call to action. It is imprudent to acquire brass knuckles, prohibited for circulation throughout the country, in the hope of minor consequences. Moreover, the legislation can change, as well as the criminal liability provided for the acquisition and carrying of knives, including brass knuckles. Vivid proof of this - literally until 2003, these actions were really punishable by law.
The abolition of criminal liability for knives did not affect such an act as independent illegal manufacture. This act is already qualified by the court as a criminal offense with all legal consequences.
In accordance with article 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, punishment is provided for making brass knuckles: compulsory labor (up to 480 hours), correctional labor (from one to two years), restriction or imprisonment up to two years with a fine.
Self Defense Application
Are brass knuckles permitted in Russia as a means of self-defense in a situation where there is a threat to life and health? In fact, the practice is such that brass knuckles used in a domestic “battle” are never considered by the court as a “weapon of self-defense”. Legislatively, a citizen does not bear responsibility for damage caused by the use of knives in a state of self-defense only if the weapon was lawfully with him. Brass knuckles can not be legally acquired, much less applied.
What consequences will the use of brass knuckles have if harm has been done to life and health? Even if the owner of the brass knuckles was not the initiator of the fight, he will be held criminally liable in accordance with the severity of the damage that he caused while defending himself. Damage with the help of illegal knives - brass knuckles - will act as an aggravating circumstance and may well lead to a real prison term.
Avoiding such consequences is simple - to acquire weapons that are permitted by law to protect themselves and their loved ones, and only after obtaining a license.