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by chmod600 1042 days ago
No, it applies more to some laws than others.

A law against carrying a broadsword is enforceable before the broadsword is actually used in a crime, because it's highly visible. A law against a dagger isn't easily enforceable until it's actually taken out in some violent manner.

(Don't over-analyze the example it's just to show a difference in how laws work in practice as opposed to on paper.)