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[Milldog1776]

Samurai swords to be banned
By Emma Henry and agencies
Last Updated: 12:56pm GMT 05/03/2007



The sale of imitation samurai swords could be banned by the end of the year, the Home Office announced today.

Importing or hiring the weapons could also be made illegal following a string of samurai sword attacks in recent years.

Breaching the ban, which is targeted at cheap imitation samurai swords rather than the more expensive genuine collectors' items made by licensed swordsmiths in Japan, would result in up to six months in jail and a £5,000 fine.

Collectors and martial arts enthusiasts owning or using genuine samurai swords would be exepmt from the ban

According to Home Office estimates, there have been at least 80 serious crimes involving the swords in England and Wales over the last four years.

One MP recently warned that they were being used by criminal gangs as the preferred weapon of choice after guns.

Last month, amphetamine addict Hugh Penrose was jailed for at least 19 years for hacking a 21-year-old woman with a samurai sword and then deliberately running her over.

In October, Bradley Moran was jailed for 17 years for murdering another man with a samurai sword following an argument in a nightclub.

It is currently legal to buy samurai swords - which are freely available at martial arts shops and on the internet - provided they are not brandished in a public place.

The Home Office now wants to ban their sale as part of a wider crackdown on knives and bladed weapons.

Carrying a samurai sword in a public place already attracts a maximum jail sentence of four years.

Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said today: "Samurai sword crime is low in volume but high in profile and I recognise it can have a devastating impact.

"Banning the sale, import and hire will take more dangerous weapons out of circulation, making our streets safer.

"We recognise it is the cheap, easily-available samurai swords which are being used in crime and not the genuine, more expensive samurai swords which are of interest to collectors and martial arts enthusiasts."

"It is already illegal to have a samurai sword in a public place but I want to restrict the number of dangerous weapons in circulation to enhance community safety."

The plans are outlined in a consultation paper, Banning Offensive Weapons, published by the Home Office today.

At present there are 17 weapons, including knuckle-dusters and batons, on the Offensive Weapons Order.

The exemptions would be for groups such as the To-ken Society of Great Britain and the British Kendo Association.

Last year, Tory MP James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) said cheap samurai swords were as easy to buy "as purchasing a Lotto ticket".
 

[cgonzales]

we need to ban all lotto sales too

[usks1]

I am sure it is just as easy to conceal a Katana as it is to hide a firearm... All you need is the breakdown version of the Katana that fits easily inside the fanny pack....

Don't believe me.... Just check out a re-run of highlander...   

There can be only one!!!!!!!!!

[EpicThought]

A 21 year old got cut up and then ran over? Poor brits, in a couple of years it will be illegal to own a car and the poor bastards will be walking.

[usks1]

Just goes to show ya... You can take the guns away, but you can't get rid of the idiots...

The bad guy will find something to use to be a bad guy... But wouldn't it be easier to use something a little more concealable than a Katana 

[410indashade]

It is just too easy isn't it.

[Benjamin Liu]

Just goes to show ya... You can take the guns away, but you can't get rid of the idiots...

The bad guy will find something to use to be a bad guy

The real problem is that many of the idiots and bad guys are in government.

[Sharif H]

As pissed of as I am at not being allowed to carry here in the UK... I'm actually kinda cool with this ban.

It's true that street gangs LOVE katanas and especially wakizashis (shorter sword). About 4 times a year there are reports on the news of either gang violence or a crazed / stoned nut case running wild with a samurai sword. And those are just the REPORTED incidents.

However, I own 4 samurai swords (amongst other things) so it's potentially a bad thing for me. But if martial artists and collectors are exempt from the law then that's fine by me. I did take the wakizashi out with my once to introduce it to somebody's face, but that was when I was nuts. I've been declared as [mostly] sane now so I don't plan on doing that again.

As long as they let me have MINE then I'm happy. I can prove I use them as a part of my training so it's cool.

Sharif

(i'm still pissed off I have to carry improvised weapons instead of knives. The bullpoint pen is NOT mightier than the tactical folder!)

[Bri Thai]

Who says you have to carry improvised weapons instead of knives?

Rightly or wrongly, both are equally illegal in the UK.

[Sharif H]

Bri, Pens are illegal? I carry a load of strong pens on me to use as palm sticks / stabbing weapons. I don't believe the pen or it's use as an improvised SELF DEFENSE tool are illegal. I know I can carry a knife that is under 3 inches and non-locking but I haven't found one like that that is suitable for SD.

[Bri Thai]

Carrying an offensive weapon in a public place is illegal in England and Wales.  And that is defined as anything made, adapted, or intended for use for causing injury to a person.

If you carry your old aunties knickers intending to strangle someone with them (or poison them.....) then they become an offensive weapon.

[410indashade]

Look on the bright side Sharif when you are laying there on the street because some hooligans got in lucky shots with their knives, swords, hammers, grandma's bloomers what have you.  If still conscious, you will be so relieved to see the nice policeman in his cheerful yellow jacket.

[Sharif H]

Well, I can't really dis the yellow jackets. I might be wearing one myself soon! I'm gonna try to join the police force soon (retail management is starting to get very boring)

Although I do understand the purpose of the yellow, black does look much cooler! 

[arnold]

Maybe you can wear both yellow and black and look like an old Yamaha motorcycle. Better hurry though, those will probably be outlawed soon too!

[410indashade]

To quote a phrase of a popular showtune when I was still young and full of beans, "Oh how I love to do the two-step..."  I think that about sums it up as far as the British Government is concerned.   Beam me Scotty there's no longer any intelligent life on these Islands. End of transmission.