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Driving weapons underground

The Echo is claiming victory in another campaign against common sense today after it was announced that the sale of samurai swords could be outlawed by the end of the year.

As it stands however "owners of such items, who acquired the weapons before they were added to the Orderwill not be committing an offence by keeping their weapons at home." but you will not be able to manufacture, import, sell, hire, offer for sale or hire, take it anywhere or possess the item for the purpose of sale or hire, and the lending or giving to any other person.

The Home office is quick to point out however that: The only accurate definition of the term "samurai sword" is, logically, a sword made during the period of samurai power in Japan. This does not cover the type of weapon used in violent crime.

Carrying a samurai sword in a public place already carries a maximum jail sentence of four years, so why is there a need to get these items out of the shops? It's not like you can tuck them in your jacket like you could a knife, or even a handgun.

The Home Office consultation is also looking at "fantasy knifes" which are "usually decorative and seen in sci-fi films". Things like the Klingon BetleH (pictured) which some collect and can form that finishing touch to a costume.

OK, so in 2005 a guy was murdered with one. There was an altercation in a pub car park and the victim received slash wounds from a so-called fantasy knife before receiving a fatal stab wound to the heart. A man later admitted murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. It is sad that this happened, but the current laws were enough to imprison this idiot so he cannot do it again.

People like this are going to find a way to hurt people no matter what you do, you cannot wrap the entire country in cotton wool. There are still pricks out there who will try and glass you in a pub for no reason.

Thankfully this is still in the consultation period and nothing is set in stone, yet.

The Home Office have come up with a number of questions that need answering.

• Should curved, single edged swords (sometimes known as "samurai swords") be added to the Offensive Weapons Order?
• Do you agree with the definition as suggested and should there also be a minimum length of blade for the weapon?
• Should there be any exemptions for genuine Japanese swords? On what grounds?
• Should there be an exemption for martial arts practitioners? How should this exemption be framed?
• Are there other weapons which have been used in violent crime that should be banned?
• If so, how are these weapons best described?
• Are their any exceptions, exemptions or defences in respect of existing offensive weapons which should be added?

If you want your say visit the Home Office Consultation website and tell them what you think. The closing date for responses to this consultation is 28 May 2007 so do it now.

The main problem we see with this type of legislation is that these weapons will still exist, they will still be bought and sold in car parks an behind closed doors and people will still be killed with them. An outright ban cannot be the answer, regulation could be.

Hell, you have to register every television set bought and that makes a very unlikely and somewhat unwieldy weapon, so why not make everyone register their weaponry. You're much less likely to stab someone if you know you're on a register of weapon owners in the area.

Either way, the message coming from the Home Office is clear. Now's the time to buy a sword. Get one on your wall, before it's too late.

It should also be noted that the countries Jedi are also beginning to worry that their 'replica' light sabres could also be affected if this comes into legislation.

Jedi info

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