Ban on imitation Samurai swords
Taken from BBC site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7139724.stm
Imitation Samurai swords are to be banned after a spate of attacks in the UK,
say ministers. The Home Office has confirmed plans to outlaw the weapons in
England and Wales after putting forward the idea earlier this year. Home Office
minister Vernon Coaker said there was a clear danger to the public posed by
easily-available swords. The proposal is expected to stop short of banning
genuine Japanese swords held by collectors or genuine enthusiasts.
In March 2007 the Home Office proposed banning imitation Samurai swords after
representations from both MPs and the public. Ministers in Scotland had proposed
a similar move in 2006. Calls for a ban came after a number of high-profile
incidents in which cheap Samurai-style swords had been used as a weapon. The
Home Office estimates there have been some 80 attacks in recent years involving
Samurai-style blades, leading to at least five deaths.
While genuine Samurai swords are part of Japanese history and change hands for
large sums of money, there is a trade in imitation blades which can be bought
over the internet for as little as £35. Under the proposals, the government will
ban the import, sale and hire of Samurai swords from April 2008. Anyone
breaching the ban will face six months in jail and a £5,000 fine.
However, ministers say they have recognised there is a special case for
exemptions for genuine collectors of the original weapons and acknowledge there
is a legitimate role for the blades in some forms of martial arts. Vernon Coaker
said: "In the wrong hands, samurai swords are dangerous weapons - there have
been a number of high profile, serious incidents involving samurai swords in
England and Wales in recent years. "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 2000 Andrew Pennington - an aide to former Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones -
was murdered when Robert Ashman attacked both men at a constituency surgery in
Cheltenham. And at the beginning of December this year a Lincoln man was jailed
after using a Samurai-style sword to murder a passer-by whom he thought had
attempted to rape his wife. The Association of Chief Police Officers has backed
the Home office move saying that while the weapon is relatively uncommon, there
is justification for a ban. While genuine collectors such as museums will still
be able to trade in the weapons, it remains unclear what measures will be put in
place to prevent people from buying cheap blades via the internet, already
considered a major marketplace for the swords.
Defending the sword
The announcement that samurai swords are to be banned in England and Wales has
been welcomed by those who have campaigned against their sale. But collectors
and martial arts enthusiasts are concerned legitimate owners may fall foul of
the law. Barbara Dunne hopes the announcement is vindication for years of
campaigning against bladed weapons, and samurai swords in particular. In 2003,
her son Robert from Middlesbrough was killed by a teenager wielding a samurai
sword. The weapon punctured his heart. Jason Kelly is currently serving a life
sentence for murder.
Ms Dunne believed her son would have wanted her to campaign against such weapons
and she has done so with gusto. She took a petition to Downing Street, wrote to
MPs and compiled a dossier of other weapons. She believes this is a reward for
her efforts. "It's an achievement to get the weapons banned. I don't want
children to keep seeing them in shop windows and thinking it's normal." Ms Dunne
was one of those who responded to a government consultation on the issue earlier
this year. Despite her opposition to the swords, she agrees there should be an
exemption for genuine martial arts enthusiasts.
Fay Goodman is also hoping there will be leniency towards sport. She has good
claim to being Britain's most skilled swordswoman. She practises Iaido, a
Japanese martial art which uses the sword, and is one of only three women
outside Japan to be graded a seventh dan. But Ms Goodman is among those worrying
about the government's decision to focus on samurai swords. "I am concerned. It
depends on the small print. Martial artists using swords begin with a wooden
one, progress to a blunt weapon and finally start using a razor-sharp blade.
Fay Goodman says swords must be treated with respect "These weapons could be
banned if the government goes too far." The former athlete, who won a gold medal
at the European Championships in 1995, is not totally against new legislation.
She admits there could be a case for a licensing system. But she points out:
"People need some protection but criminals could use anything. The biggest
amount of knife crime is actually domestic violence. Guns were licensed but
shootings have only increased."
It is not the first time samurai swords have incurred the wrath of a government.
In 1867, Japan banned people from openly wearing swords and abolished the
samurai class. That decision, more than a century ago, led to many beautifully
crafted weapons entering the market. Two million swords known as "gun to" were
made during World War II, again feeding the demand from western collectors.
Today there's a thriving market. Rare swords can sell for tens of thousands of
pounds.
Mark Hawkins owns the Lanes Armoury, a specialist shop selling arms and
militaria in Brighton. He has a number of samurai swords for sale, and says
collectors are primarily motivated by their beauty and history. "Genuine and
reproduction swords look similar. But they're not really the same. It's like
comparing an oil painting to a photographic print." Mr Hawkins is unlikely to be
affected by the legislation because his swords are expensive historical items.
Other businesses may be less lucky.
Lawrence Taylor runs one of the largest Internet dealers in the country.
Blades-UK has dozens of swords and other weapons at cheaper prices. Mr Taylor
argues swords are often blamed for deaths caused by long knives: "I'm disgusted.
A ban won't make any difference. More people are killed by guns and
screwdrivers." Tens of thousands of collectors and martial arts enthusiasts will
be affected, and there will be confusion about what actually constitutes a
sword." Blades-UK has an age verification system, and Mr Taylor says he does not
sell to anyone under the age of 18. But if the government gets its way, replica
swords will need to be put back in their scabbards permanently.
Comment from the KIAI Online Magazine Editor:
Dear friends,
I most certainly hope to see your serious articles about this sensible issue. Meanwhile, I leave you with a small montage-photo as my comment:
