this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
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It's perfectly legal to own any type of lock picking tool in all of the states in the US, as long as you are not using it for malicious purpose. But there are four states that have increased scrutiny on if you are caught out in public with them: Ohio Nevada Virginia and Mississippi, but it's completely legal to have lock picking as a hobby(although some states require registration to do it professionally)
That's totally fair, though I think a bit excessive. I understand requiring registration for dangerous things like working on gas lines or high voltage electricity, because you could cause a ton of damage. But for a locksmith, the risk is really low, _especially if you're picking instead of the more destructive and faster methods most locksmiths use because they don't want to spend the time manipulating pins.
I'm guessing in those states where you need to be registered/licensed, it's more about raising the barrier to entry to protect existing locksmiths than any kind of actual concern for the safety of the public.