IN A PROGRESSIVE STATE LIKE TENNESSEE, THIS WOULDN’T BE AN ISSUE: Cops, Prosecutors Disagree on Whether Freddie Gray’s Knife Was Legal. How was he supposed to know? Here in Tennessee, the answer is always, “it’s legal,” as automatic knives (switchblades), and fixed blades of any length, are legal to carry.

It’s not that way in states like Maryland, or New York, where convoluted laws are used disproportionately to target black people. Why do New York and Maryland lawmakers hate black people and want them imprisoned or killed?