- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
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I want to bring to the attention of the Forumites something that could affect us all and is certainly affecting our friends, brothers and collectors in Australia, regarding banning of edged weapons. This includes edged weapons that have an overall length of 40 cm or more.
That figures to an overall length of 15 ¾ INCHES, Folks!
This comes under the New South Wales State Government Prohibition of Weapons Act.
The purpose of this Act and its regulations is to restrict access to certain implements that are considered to be inherently dangerous. These implements are scheduled as "Prohibited Weapons", and include such deadly weaponry as Bali-song knives, slingshots, and crossbows (I kid you not),as well as truly dangerous items such as bombs and missiles.
The Minister for Police, (just the title makes me mad) John Watkins, has announced that the routine five year review of this Act is about to be undertaken, and has stated as follows:
"I want the review to now consider whether swords-including samurai swords and medieval blades-and machetes should also be banned items. There have been uses of machetes ,of swords in crimes in NSW over the last 12 months that has given me some concern."
Last year the State of Victoria attempted to ban swords.
Interested people in Victoria fought the government there very strongly on this issue and seem to have won a "stay of execution. They were supported by students and collectors of weaponry in other countries across the world who sent submissions to the government of Victoria making it clear to that government that this was not just a local state matter, but was of concern to the international community of collectors and students of edged weaponry.
The scheduling of swords and machetes as prohibited weapons is currently under consideration, and you can take it as read that this WILL HAPPEN unless a very strong defense by interested parties is mounted.
Will you assist our Australian brother and sister edged weapon collectors and dealers by writing to the NSW Minister for Police and expressing your concerns?
As a citizen of a country other than Australia, I believe the concerns that would ring a bell would be :
a) Enactment of an unenforceable law ; enactment of such laws tends to reflect badly on government ,to weaken respect for the law, and to encourage criminals. In todays world crime is international and disrespect for the laws of one country can cause disrespect for the laws of other countries, particularly countries as culturally close as the USA and Australia.
b) The puerile attitude that banning something is actually an effective measure against criminal use and possession of that thing.
c) The sword is a cultural artifact. Any tampering with the right of a citizen to own a sword is a restriction of democratic freedoms and could in some instances be considered to be an insult to another persons cultural heritage. (Ever hear of the USA Right to Bear Arms?)
Yes, you can get a license (to own an edged artifact, , but this could cost as much as $125 PER ITEM!
Yes, Australia is a Police State. BUT it is also a TOURIST STATE . They want our money. They want our support (well, maybe). Politicians depend on support for their policies for their re-election..
Let them k now what the world thinks of this upcoming ban. The PROHIBITED WEAPONS ACT as it applies to edged artifacts over 15 ¾ inches in length.
PLEASE take a moment and click on the below email and send a short note telling the MINISTER OF POLICE (Title still rankles me!) what you think of their banning edged artifacts, weapons, that could include machetes, khukuris, swords, keris, etc.
The email address of the Minister for Police, John Watkins:
ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Thanks
Bill Marsh
PS, I would really apprecaite it if you would pass this along to other people in your address book. The more we can protest this outrage, the more likely something will be done.
That figures to an overall length of 15 ¾ INCHES, Folks!
This comes under the New South Wales State Government Prohibition of Weapons Act.
The purpose of this Act and its regulations is to restrict access to certain implements that are considered to be inherently dangerous. These implements are scheduled as "Prohibited Weapons", and include such deadly weaponry as Bali-song knives, slingshots, and crossbows (I kid you not),as well as truly dangerous items such as bombs and missiles.
The Minister for Police, (just the title makes me mad) John Watkins, has announced that the routine five year review of this Act is about to be undertaken, and has stated as follows:
"I want the review to now consider whether swords-including samurai swords and medieval blades-and machetes should also be banned items. There have been uses of machetes ,of swords in crimes in NSW over the last 12 months that has given me some concern."
Last year the State of Victoria attempted to ban swords.
Interested people in Victoria fought the government there very strongly on this issue and seem to have won a "stay of execution. They were supported by students and collectors of weaponry in other countries across the world who sent submissions to the government of Victoria making it clear to that government that this was not just a local state matter, but was of concern to the international community of collectors and students of edged weaponry.
The scheduling of swords and machetes as prohibited weapons is currently under consideration, and you can take it as read that this WILL HAPPEN unless a very strong defense by interested parties is mounted.
Will you assist our Australian brother and sister edged weapon collectors and dealers by writing to the NSW Minister for Police and expressing your concerns?
As a citizen of a country other than Australia, I believe the concerns that would ring a bell would be :
a) Enactment of an unenforceable law ; enactment of such laws tends to reflect badly on government ,to weaken respect for the law, and to encourage criminals. In todays world crime is international and disrespect for the laws of one country can cause disrespect for the laws of other countries, particularly countries as culturally close as the USA and Australia.
b) The puerile attitude that banning something is actually an effective measure against criminal use and possession of that thing.
c) The sword is a cultural artifact. Any tampering with the right of a citizen to own a sword is a restriction of democratic freedoms and could in some instances be considered to be an insult to another persons cultural heritage. (Ever hear of the USA Right to Bear Arms?)
Yes, you can get a license (to own an edged artifact, , but this could cost as much as $125 PER ITEM!
Yes, Australia is a Police State. BUT it is also a TOURIST STATE . They want our money. They want our support (well, maybe). Politicians depend on support for their policies for their re-election..
Let them k now what the world thinks of this upcoming ban. The PROHIBITED WEAPONS ACT as it applies to edged artifacts over 15 ¾ inches in length.
PLEASE take a moment and click on the below email and send a short note telling the MINISTER OF POLICE (Title still rankles me!) what you think of their banning edged artifacts, weapons, that could include machetes, khukuris, swords, keris, etc.
The email address of the Minister for Police, John Watkins:
ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Thanks
Bill Marsh
PS, I would really apprecaite it if you would pass this along to other people in your address book. The more we can protest this outrage, the more likely something will be done.
)
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