Under MCL 750.226, what is necessary to be charged with carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent?

To be charged with carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent under MCL 750.226, the critical element is that the individual must be armed with a weapon and intend to use it unlawfully. This means that mere possession of the weapon is not sufficient; there must be a specific intention to use that weapon in a manner that violates the law.

This provision emphasizes the importance of intent in determining whether the action constitutes a criminal offense. If a person is found to be carrying a dangerous weapon but can demonstrate a lawful purpose or no intention to use it unlawfully, they may not be charged under this statute. Intent is essential because it distinguishes between lawful activities, such as self-defense or hunting, and unlawful activities that may involve threats or intended harm to others.

The other choices do not capture the necessity of unlawful intent, which is why they don’t align with the requirements of the statute. Possessing a weapon without intent to use it unlawfully does not meet the threshold for chargeability under this law. Similarly, simply being in a public place while armed or carrying a weapon openly does not necessarily indicate unlawful intent. Therefore, the requirement that someone must be armed with a weapon and intends to use it unlawfully underlies the definition of the offense in