Usa Bans Swords!!!

[bobO]

Scared you didn't I. HAPPY HOLLOWEEN EVERYBODY:mace:

[Jason Moore]

You bastard....SwordX(

Happy halloween!

[Richard Johnson]

Consider that if you carry one of these swords into a bank, store, etc, you will be arrested.
If you carry one downthe street, the police can arrest you for carrying a dangerous weapon.
If you keep it in your trunk, you are carrying a concealed weapon.
If you practice it in your yard, your neighbor can compalin and the swat team will arrive.

There really are not a lot of places we can carry a sword other than in the privacy of our locked door and closed blinds.

[jwilliams]

Richard,
I hate to disagree with you, but a sword in the trunk is not a concealed weapon, at least in Arizona. Practicing in the back yard is not really a problem either. Although I can't answer for Tucson.

[goose710]

As a licensed fire-arm transported in new jersey ( really hard to do in the messed up state) a "secured" item can not be construde as a concealed weapon. ie in a box/bag/wrapped in a towel and tied with string etc if imediate retreval is possible then you gotz a problem. waving said sword out the window of yer pick-up truck ( and i drive one) is a no-no.
I've been stopped on the parkway here in nj, as the tropper asked for my lic he saw my id card and imediately went into gun carrier mode. i assurded him i was just going to school and had no firearms with me but he saw my pool cue on the back seat . it became a gun at that point , after examing said pool cue gun and warming to my charming personality he just gave me a warning cause i was going about 95mph in a 70 caddy deville
thhe point is get a nasty cop/ or have an attitude and even doing eveything correctly can and will get you in trouble.
goose710

[Ben]

Pool cue gun?:-?

As far as I know, in my state, what is considered a concealed weapon is something that is on your person and hidden of course. The only concealed weapons that require perment are loaded guns. The car is considered an extention of your home, at least in my gun toting state. And I'm proud of it too.;)

[Brian Brazier]

I have never had a problem with the neighbors though the ones right next to me close their blinds anytime I am practicing (but then again they are strange people to begin with) As for carrying my Iaito or Shinken I try not to advertise I have it with me by either putting it in the box it was shipped in or at the very least putting it in a sword bag then in a Masahiro sword bag like this http://www.swordsofmight.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=143 but if you do get pulled over the best thing to do is tell the cop immediately that you have a sword in the car and where it is

[bobO]

Yup what brian said.When ever I take a sword off the property it's in a sword bag.As for new Jersey you need a permit to own a BB gun.And Jersey cops are not to be trifled with,strictly yes sir no sir kinda guys.Here in PA it's not uncommon to see guys on the side of the road with rifles.

[Firehand10k]

I'm just a bad example. Now that I have a sword bag I'll use it but before I just threw the swords in the back seat with a tripod a camera and some garb making sure there was at least one unsharpened wall-hanger to prove I was up to no more than a photo shoot. It worked in TX works in KY and on any Army Base I've tried. Of course I've checked to make sure they're not specifically illegal in any of those places after that its all a matter of presentation.

[Dotanuki]

Truthfully, that opening post isn't the least bit funny. [just ask Mako]
Politics will always take the point of least resistance to ban weapons [the smallest target group]. All it takes is some idiot 12 year old, to hurt himself cutting up stuff in his backyard, to start the ball rolling. Just remember all the nunchaku bans back in the 70's.
Look, if I get into it with a neighbor, and chop him up in my back yard with a machete or axe, I'm just another maniac! But, if I chop him up with a "samurai sword" [GASP!!] I will make the headline news, worldwide. Just read your news articles, they go out of the way to mention any sort of crime or incident with a "samurai sword"!
Here in Cleveland, we have 14 and 15 year old gang members running around with handguns. The city council tried to issue a ban on selling a handgun to anyone under 21 [like they're buying them legally??] No matter the law, to be unarmed in Cleveland is like having a target on your back, cops look the other way for normal citizens because they know it's a matter of survival. Yet, if you drive a few miles and hit the suburbs, it is just the opposite [bored suburbanite cops with nothing better to do than harass]
If I go to my other property in W. Va. I can shoot my guns off the back porch. The Bud lite commercial of picking up the hitchiker with the beer and the chainsaw could have been filmed down there.
So I quess it all boils down to where you live.

[bobO]

Yeah I got a weird sense of humor,but it was meant to be scary,and to promote this kind of dialog.

[Jason Moore]

>:P boooo!

[bobO]

O-kay,I'm sorry,but Jason you know what they say about paybacks...HONEY:-O

[Mako]

Truthfully, that opening post isn't the least bit funny. [just ask Mako]
This is the kind of crap that was being spouted by the British Government last Spring...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_066629
...fortunately,it's just been announced that the Bill has been stalled and is not scheduled to be reintroduced in the foreseeable future,so sword enthusiasts here have been given a temporary reprieve and as long as nobody goes nuts with anything resembling a 'Samurai Sword',maybe they'll find something else to annoy us with instead.~X(

[bobO]

Man it just gets crazier and crazier.How about kitchen knives and hammers,I'd be willing to bet more people get done in by those then any kind of sword.I say we sic Richard on em.

[Jason Moore]

O-kay,I'm sorry,but Jason you know what they say about paybacks...HONEY:-O

=))

[jwilliams]

I saw this coming. The 2 threads converging. We will always have these problems as long as the governments think that you can legislate things instead of actions. A gun, a knife or anything that can be used as a weapon is not going to go out and kill someone until some idiot puts it in his/her hands and uses it that way. As long as we don't hold people accountable for their actions by blaming objects we will continue to have problems. Only law abiding citizens give up their weapons anyway, the criminals by their very nature will hang on to theirs and prey upon others.

[goose710]

i read that piece and it scares the crap outta me that same retoric, used by the gun boys here in the states, a hammer is a hammer , a sword does nothing but sit there, the idiots that use em for crimminal perposes should be jailed for long periods . in philidelphia they considered a ban on "baseball bats" cause some-one got one used on him assinine lawmakers , kneejerk reactions !!! does no one any good.
goose710

[jwilliams]

Goose,
rhetoric used by the gun boys or the anti-gun boys?
Mako,
I read that link. I can't believe these politicians that want to legislate and take things from law-abiding citizens to "make the public more safe" How has the gun ban worked there? Criminals still have access to all the weapons they want.

[goose710]

the anit-gun boys and Hitler too!
goose710

[jwilliams]

I agree Goose.

[Mako]

Mako,
I read that link. I can't believe these politicians that want to legislate and take things from law-abiding citizens to "make the public more safe" How has the gun ban worked there? Criminals still have access to all the weapons they want.
The ban on handguns is a joke...all it did was to take away the genuine,law abiding gun enthusiasts privileges and hike up the price of illegally imported guns which are becoming more freely available on the 'black market' and gun related crime is more rife now than it's ever been.X(
Semi-auto rifles and shotguns are still legal but people applying for a permit are vetted by the Police and anyone who can't provide good reason for owning one or have a history of violent crime or mental disorder are refused but again,if they really want one,they can get one!!

[Certified]

JWilliams you stated,

I saw this coming. The 2 threads converging. We will always have these problems as long as the governments think that you can legislate things instead of actions. A gun, a knife or anything that can be used as a weapon is not going to go out and kill someone until some idiot puts it in his/her hands and uses it that way. As long as we don't hold people accountable for their actions by blaming objects we will continue to have problems. Only law abiding citizens give up their weapons anyway, the criminals by their very nature will hang on to theirs and prey upon others.

I agreeed with you until the last sentence. I look at it like this, the Government with their rediculous bans , make criminals out of law abiding citizens. Just because an honest citizen chooses not to turn things in, doesn`t make them criminals waiting to prey on others.
The Government can`t control drugs or guns, so how are they going to control swords since other than where you purchased them from, there is no paperwork on them, besides I sold all my weapons at the gun show. That is my story and I`m sticking to it.

[jwilliams]

Ok, I agree with that. and I didn't mean that if you hung on to weapons you are a criminal waiting to prey on others, but the people most likely to turn in weapons are those that are strictly obedient to the law. Look at the UK and Australia. But criminals who prey on people are definitely not turning anything in. They are not one and the same.

[joelybob]

Ha ha ha , laugh of insanity people, laugh of insanity.>:)>:)

[Nanshoji]

Or the Renaisance Festival!

[Nanshoji]

When I ordered the $70 odachi, I walked to my friends house to show it to him, with it slung across my shoulders. As if that wasnt dumb enough, now that I think of it, like five cops live on the road I walked down to my friends house. How I didnt get arrested, I dont know. Did the same thing with my fuji elite katana.

[Yaso]

Or the Renaisance Festival!

I saw Johnny Bravo at the Ren Fesitval in Maryland this year.

[Mako]

Originally Posted by jwilliams http://swordsofmightforum.com/muggled/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://swordsofmightforum.com/showthread.php?p=1531#post1531)
Mako,
I read that link. I can't believe these politicians that want to legislate and take things from law-abiding citizens to "make the public more safe" How has the gun ban worked there? Criminals still have access to all the weapons they want.


Well...they've gone ahead and done it J.
As from April 2008 it will be illegal to import,offer for sale,loan,hire or make a gift of a "Samurai Sword" made in Japan after 1953 unless it has the appropriate documentation that the sword was made by a Japanese Government approved and licensed smith.
All "Samurai Swords" made outside Japan will be banned.
It won't be illegal to keep any swords already in your posession but they can't be offered for sale or given away,which means that my Paul Chen,Last Legend and Bugei katana will be monetary worthless.:-O

[bobO]

I'm stunned,Absolutely gob smacked.This is down right Orwellian.Who do these people think they are!My funny little post does not seem so funny know.Mako I'm very sorry to here this news.bobO

[jwilliams]

bobO, the warning is, we must be ever vigilant so it doesn't happen here, as it has in many parts of our country already. It starts with outrageous demands, like take away everyone's guns, then when everyone shouts it down, they say ok, how about a compromise, let's just get rid of the one's that no one really needs anyway, and if it doesn't effect us we say ok. The first lie is that there was nothing to compromise in the first place, they don't compromise or give up anything, the second lie is that they will stop with the first compromise.

[rick]

yeah gun control works ask the experts comunist russia , china ,the nazis
japan ,germany (modern)........ thouse with out swords can still die on them..

[goose710]

Mako
This is in, not so Great Briton?? Can it be rebutted by the population ? or is it written in stone? god awful to hear of such a thing truely it is.
(side note)= see how the well to do are excluded from this law they can afford and own the expensive swords. whilst you (assuming) a regular joe kan't!!! a Bitch on wheels for sure.
Can you divest yourself of the swords at this time legally? my thought is sell off exsisting swords overseas, and buy either a nihonto or a licensed smiths modern!!!
I am truely dismayed
goose710

[rick]

hey goose that kinda went over my head run it by again please

[goose710]

I was commenting on Mako's misfortune, mentioned earlier in this thread. they passed a law banning his swords
goose710

[rick]

that really sucks ......... they'll get my sword when they pry it from my cold dead fingers......

[Firehand10k]

They aren't banning swords just the buying, selling, giving, and recieving of them. Which sucks just as bad for a collector. Too bad sword collectors are such a small community. We are very misunderstood and really can't get enough numbers together to seriously petition anything.

[rick]

like I said I'll give up the ghost before I give up my steel

[Dotanuki]

Mako,
Truely disheartening news.:cry:
Guys, don't think for a moment it can't happen here, ranting on the Internet won't solve problems like these. Whenever they try to pass ridiculous laws like this here, write your congressman and senators, and take up petitions. To idly stand by, and just complain, is a recipe for disaster.X(

[bobO]

I wonder if we could piggy back on the NRA,as firehand said were a small community.I really like what Jwilliams had to say to.They take one weapon,just makes it easer for them to take another.you guys notice I can find nothing funny about this.

[Firehand10k]

Our biggest problem in the US is that they keep us divided even more. Vastly most of the weapons laws are State's territory. It is unlikely that the federal government will take any interest in sword laws either direction. States are then left free to do as they will and unless all collectors move to the same state our numbers are even smaller.

[rick]

with the rise of groups like the sca and "ren" fairs ...... I think our swords are safe for now

[jwilliams]

I think you're right Firehand but the power needs to stay in the states because if the feds get it we're done for. Maybe we to start an NSA National Sword Association like the NRA. like you said , splintered up we have no power.

[rick]

I'll join

[RedZorak]

These are some great ideas. We should go somewhere with this.

[rick]

NSMA ....... national sword martial arts association I like the swond of that...

[Mako]

Mako
This is in, not so Great Briton?? Can it be rebutted by the population ? or is it written in stone? god awful to hear of such a thing truely it is.
(side note)= see how the well to do are excluded from this law they can afford and own the expensive swords. whilst you (assuming) a regular joe kan't!!! a Bitch on wheels for sure.
Can you divest yourself of the swords at this time legally? my thought is sell off exsisting swords overseas, and buy either a nihonto or a licensed smiths modern!!!
I am truely dismayed
goose710
Thanks goose' and I appreciate all the moral support from you guys.
I'm gonna have to give this some thought over the Xmas period.
Problem is that I don't really want to sell any of my swords and I can see a lot of people over here wanting to unload them soon and they're gonna be a dime a dozen on ebay-UK in the New Year and as Firehand quite rightly stated,it won't be a crime to own one,so it may be a chance to pick up a top notch production blade for peanuts and I could then start saving for a modest Nihonto piece.
[rant]
What's got me so riled up is the fact that it's yet another knee jerk reaction by the 'suits' in Government who are not in touch with the ordinary working class people who have never had 'the right to bear arms'...that was always reserved for the rich in our society anyway.
I don't know much about American Politics but I do know that you guys have the Second Amendment and the NRA and the formation of a 'National Blade Association' or whatever right now doesn't seem like such a bad idea to me...even if it's only to safeguard the civil rights of decent,law abiding future generations so they aren't forced to eat with chopsticks because metal knives,forks and spoons will be banned.
[/end of rant]...for the time being at least.:-?

[bobO]

Mako,Regards the first part,your welcome(brothers in arms) and good thinking re.the blades.As to the second part,I really like the NBA idea,that could include all the knife collectors etc.That's HUGH! Chop sticks are actually pretty good ad hock weapons.;)

[Firehand10k]

even if it's only to safeguard the civil rights of decent,law abiding future generations so they aren't forced to eat with chopsticks because metal knives,forks and spoons will be banned.


I found this comment ironic since I recently tried to look up laws in Kentucky regarding swords and knives. The Law is worded that any knife other than a "ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife" is considered a deadly weapon. due to that wording it has been held up in seperate courts examples I found listed that a stabbing with a pocket knife was only an aggrivated assault, but an attack with a kitchen butcher knife was assault with a deadly weapon. I've also seen that since they are not an "Ordinary pocket knife" those multi-tools (folding knives with pliers and screw drivers and such) are deadly weapons. There has been no talk of changing any of these definitions or pertinant laws here.

[Mako]

I found this comment ironic since I recently tried to look up laws in Kentucky regarding swords and knives. The Law is worded that any knife other than a "ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife" is considered a deadly weapon. due to that wording it has been held up in seperate courts examples I found listed that a stabbing with a pocket knife was only an aggrivated assault, but an attack with a kitchen butcher knife was assault with a deadly weapon. I've also seen that since they are not an "Ordinary pocket knife" those multi-tools (folding knives with pliers and screw drivers and such) are deadly weapons. There has been no talk of changing any of these definitions or pertinant laws here.
Carrying a fixed blade knife in a "Public place" is a criminal offence here if the blade exceeds 1" [that's right...I mean one inch] and yet we're allowed to carry a folder with a blade length of up to 3" provided it doesn't have a blade locking device with impunity...how crazy is that?
It's also illegal to shoot a Welshman with a bow and arrow within the City limits of Chester on a Sunday...honestly,it's still on the Book of Statutes and hasn't been rescinded...needless to say that I avoid Chester completely just in case a local inhabitant forgets what day of the week it is.:)

[bobO]

And now for something completely different,I finally understand that character on Monty Python who hits himself in the head with a brick.

[Brian Brazier]

Mako, if you do decide to sell your LL Katana, please LMK

[jwilliams]

Mako,
I'm so sorry. I would have such a hard time with that. Many states here are headed that way too.

[rick]

we need to really start the sword assocition some one see if we can get jason to help

[Jason Moore]

I can look into it. We kinda already have one going on right here... I wouldn't know how to get one officially started.

[rick]

the nra started at gun clubs ...... so if you post on other forums post the idea there