I apologise if I've missed any previous forum discussions about this, but what does everyone think about the recent ban on samurai swords in the UK?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7331099.stm

It's all a bit silly really innit?

mule wrote:
It's all a bit silly really innit?

Absolutely! Considering if someone's really intent on causing harm, they'll find a way no matter what!

Are any other MA weapons going to be banned I wonder - and how does that affect practitioner's rights? (not that we have THAT many samurai in the UK )

Its absolutely ridiculous that they have to ban things like this. I don't want kids getting hold of these things anymore than the next person but Martial Arts practitioners have a right to wield these weapons as they are given proper training.
They should have regulated the sue of swords through a registration program, Age limits, Identification, Martial Arts licence etc, at a cost if need be.
Again the minority effects the majority and as was said before "They will find a way to do harm if they want". Whats next a ban on steak knifes, forks, and spoons??

I always keep my sword in a carry case, I always have my martial arts licence while carrying it. I only carry it to and from training/displays.

Why must we be penalised?

Ryusui_Ryu wrote:
Whats next a ban on steak knifes, forks, and spoons??
Why must we be penalised?

I absolutely agree with everything you've said!

How can martial artists protect their rights with regards to weapons?

provided you practice with the weapon in question at a certified dojo, the police cannot arrest you.

on the whole its a waste of time.

It seems that MA are safe from the ban for now. But we still can't buy the swords?? Most shops say they cannot sell the iaito's anymore in the UK? anyone know where you can buy a legal sword to practise with?? I already have mine but I'm thinking of new students...

Iaido is something I was looking at dabbling in recently, but have been put off by the ban. It's all sensationalism and bowing to the press, and this is coming from a journalist!

I think it is strange that they are only addressing samurai swords. Is it just samurai swords or all kinds of sword? Am I correct in thinking that non Japanese swords will be exempt from this, so instead of people being attacked by yobs with katanas, people will be attacked by yobs with broadswords.

Maybe its just an easy target for the policy makers - after all when you do hear about a youth running around with one its always well publicised in the media. Or perhaps it really was needed?

Taken from BBC:

Legislation against selling, making, hiring or importing samurai swords in England and Wales has come into force.

Those breaking the law face six months in jail and a £5,000 fine. Carrying a sword in public is already illegal.

Exemptions will cover swords which are used for re-enactments or antique weapons kept on display by collectors.

Eight years ago a councillor was killed by a man wielding a samurai sword in the office of Cheltenham Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones.

Anyone found guilty of importing samurai swords will face up to seven years in prison and an unlimited fine.

'Cheap reproductions'

Samurai swords are part of Japanese history and genuine artefacts can change hands for large sums of money.

But in recent years there has been a trade in reproductions which can be bought over the internet for as little as £35 and they have been used in several attacks.


Last month a gang of youths, one armed with a samurai sword, attacked a 15-year-old boy in Newry, County Down.

On another occasion, a youth was seen brandishing a sword in Newcastle.

Chris James, who deals in antique military items, including Japanese swords, told the BBC he welcomed the legislation.

He said: "I don't have a problem with it if it stops youths getting hold of cheap reproductions."

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "The government takes violent crime very seriously and we are determined to do all we can to protect individuals and communities.

Consultation

"Having undertaken a wide consultation we recognise that it is the cheap and easily available samurai swords that have been used in crime. That is why we have made sensible exemptions for genuine enthusiasts.

"This ban is part of our wider strategy to tackle serious violent crime. Later this year we will launch a new advertising campaign aimed at preventing young people carrying knives."


In 2000 MP Nigel Jones survived a samurai sword attack

A Home Office spokeswoman said the government had consulted collectors and martial arts groups as well as laws enforcement agencies.

Swords aged over 100 years will be exempt from the law, and defences will be in place for crown functions, museums and drama productions.

Alf Hitchcock, of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said: "Throughout the consultation process the Association of Chief Police Officers has supported the government's position on the banning of samurai swords.


"As I have said on previous occasions, these are not the most common weapons for people to carry and use in violent crimes but nationally there have been some significant incidents, serious assaults and murders using a samurai sword.

"So we feel the introduction of a ban is much needed."

Currently 17 weapons, including knuckle dusters and batons are on the Offensive Weapons Order, which was created by the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Actually the more I read about it the more policy focused it sounds!

Imitation samurai swords are to be banned in the UK following a series of high-profile attacks, the government announced yesterday. The curved, single-edged Japanese blades, available for as little as £35 on UK websites, have been involved in about 80 serious crimes in England and Wales in recent years, including at least five deaths.
They will join knuckle-dusters and batons when they are added to the Offensive Weapons Order in April, though martial arts enthusiasts and collectors are expected to be exempt from the ban.

The ban follows public consultation with police, victims' groups, traders, collectors and martial arts enthusiasts. Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said: "In the wrong hands, samurai swords are dangerous weapons. It is therefore crucial that we take this action to tackle the menace of violent crime. 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."

In February, father-of-four Thomas Roe killed passerby Carl Taylor in Lincoln with a samurai sword he kept in a pot by his door. Jailing Roe this month for a minimum of 18 years, the judge condemned his use of the "fearsome weapon".

It was the latest in a series of cases involving samurai swords. The murder of Matt Stiling in 2005 with a single blow to the chest during a petty feud prompted community and local press campaigns against samurai swords.

Before the killer was jailed for 17 years, a senior investigating officer, Det Insp Ken Lamont, described the force of the 18in (45cm) weapon used in the attack outside a Sidmouth club: "He was killed by a single stab wound which went through his body cavity, completely severing a rib, and pierced his heart. These swords are designed for one purpose and one purpose only, which is to kill or inflict serious injury. The way they are held and the size of them and their cutting edges mean they are very dangerous weapons."

Andrew Pennington, an assistant to former Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones, was murdered trying to save the MP when a man attacked both men at a constituency surgery in Cheltenham in 2000. A year earlier, Eden Strang seriously injured 11 people when he went on the rampage with a samurai sword at a Roman Catholic church in Thornton Heath, south London.

Under the new rules, anyone importing, selling or hiring out the swords will face up to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine. Carrying a samurai sword in a public place already carries a maximum jail sentence of four years.

I'm still confused about the actual law on selling real iaito's, as many of the places to buy genuine practise swords from have stopped selling in the UK. I think maybe because they are unsure of the guidlines but the law so far seems contradictory. On the one hand it says all making, selling of swords are banned except those used by people re-inacting or collecting. I also see a mention about MA enthuisiasts being able to continue training but they say having a sword in public is illegal and you can't buy them??

Maybe time will sort this out but I think the stores of genuine MA weapons have stopped selling in the UK through mis-understanding of this ban as the law isn't making it clear enough.

I will try contact someone official in the goverment about this and see if I can get a response and I will post it here...