SAMURAI swords will be banned in Victoria

[John Lindsey]

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8902722%255E1702,00.html

SAMURAI swords will be banned in Victoria under laws to be introduced from July.

A Victorian government spokesman said owners of samurai swords, which are listed as controlled weapons, would have to hand them into police or sell them to a dealer under the legislation.
The move to list the swords as prohibited weapons follows a string of incidents in which they've been involved.

"There has been a number of incidents involving swords ... and we want to make sure these weapons are not freely available," the spokesman said.

A 13-year-old boy was last week arrested and charged with possession of a controlled weapon and other offences after he allegedly ran at officers with a samurai sword in central Victoria.

A 21-year-old man had his hand severed by what was believed to be a samurai sword during a brawl in Melbourne last month.

Huy Huynh, 19, was allegedly hacked to death near a Melbourne nightclub in July last year by a group that used samurai swords or machetes.

Collectors, dealers and people with a cultural interest in the swords would be able to apply to police for an exemption under the new laws.

[Sharp Phil]

Gosh, it's about time. That'll stamp out crime.

[Shitoryu Dude]

I can see the headlines now:

What are they going to do when people are reduced to using a board with a nail, or perhaps a rock? Ban sticks and stones?

Idiots.

:beer:

[Maro]

They tried Legislation on this last year. It is usually a Political gambit around Election time. I had hoped that this would be avoided but it look like this is the road they are going down - even Iaito are on the list.

I live in NSW which is the next state along from Victoria. I dread to think what is next

[Shiro]

What about iaito in Victoria?

[DYUSAN]

:D They don't get it. What will they ban next, screwdrivers? In my part of the US the number three most often used tool is a 8"-10 " screwdriver.

[adouglasmhor]

Two years ago the screwdriver replaced the carpet knife (stanley knife) and the kitchen knife as weapon of choice in Glasgow. But worst in my book is still ceramic hairdressing scissor blades. Good job I have a bad leg and need a blackthorn stick to get about!

[seskoad]

Originally posted by Shiro
What about iaito in Victoria?

My sensei told me that new law will be applied for those who collect/use iaito, shinken or any other samurai type sword a permit which last 3 years and cost about 100 AUD. But so far until now, he has not instructed us to apply for it yet. The law sucks, ain't it?

[Jouke]

Well then I sugest we all go and get our ninja-to, as these are definately NOT samurai swords !

[gozanryu]

Well, at least it will reduce violent crime and behavior, like the Australian gun ban did. . . oh yeah, it did'nt.

[meat]

Yup, welcome to Australia, the land of sun, beaches, blond chics, and ignorant politicians with the worst knee jerk reactions of any in the world. To be quite frank, our weapons laws are absurd. Thank god I live in NSW, where at least some sanity still prevails. We even have 3 section staffs in our banned weapons list for god sake. Any intelligent person can see that the thing needs dam near years of training to make it a danger to anyone but yourself. But such is the nature of things here. The politicians love to make themselves sound community minded, telling us the community has had enough and it's high time these vicious weapons were banned.
:rolleyes:
Please, everyone I've spoken to about it(non martial artists that is) have laughed. No one really cares if gang members want to chop each other up with swords. Our politicians need to get onto fixing up the problem of gangs shooting at each other and gun crime in general. THAT'S what people are actually concerned about.

[Jamie Stokes]

Greeting fellow members.

As usual, Somebody must be seen to be doing something, so we ( the people who must be seen to be doing something) will target weapons used illeaglly.

Unfortuanately, the ones who will feel this wrath of public indignation are the legitmate users, who are (on the whole) responsible, dedicated users/ collectors/ martial arts disciples.( I use the word disciple, as it it implies one who has the discipline to go to a dojo and learn respect for their art)

Besides, like all these things, it will just drive it underground.

For all those who do open handed arts, or kicking arts, they might ban our hands and feet next.

Warmest,
Jamie

[Jerry Johnson]

IF they didn't out law guns they wouldn't have this sword problem. Don't the get it...duh...some People! :confused:

[Iain]

Stupid legislation for stupid problems. Splendid. This is not math. Two stupids do not make a smart.

[Jock Armstrong]

Amen..............

[DYUSAN]

:eek: My wife and I had given some thought to immigrating to the land down under. Then the politicians decided to change the gun laws. Now we are looking for a few acres here in the US. I going to buy,then declare myself seceded from the Union, and a third world country (maybe I can get the US to give us money ;forien aid). Now in this new country there will be no gun laws or weapon laws.