What qualifies as a Dangerous Weapon?

A dangerous weapon is defined as a substance or object that has the potential to cause serious injury or death. This includes items such as firearms, knives, explosives, or any other tools that can inflict significant harm when used with intent. The key aspect of this definition is the capability of the item to cause severe damage, whether through an intentional act or an accident.

In contrast, instruments designed solely to produce sound, such as musical instruments or alarms, do not possess any inherent harmful capability, and therefore do not qualify as dangerous weapons. Similarly, while any item used for self-defense can vary in terms of associated risk, it is the context and the item's ability to cause serious harm that determines its classification. Items used only in sports may be capable of causing injury under specific circumstances but are not generally classified as dangerous weapons in their intended context of use. Thus, choice C accurately captures the essence of what constitutes a dangerous weapon.