Australia: New law to ban swords

[BamBams]

"SWORDS will be outlawed from July under new laws to curb the growing use of the weapons in street brawls.

Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said the ban would help police overcome a culture of young people arming themselves with swords.
'For most people running around the street carrying swords there is absolutely no reason for them to be carrying those weapons,' he said yesterday.

From July, anyone found possessing or selling a sword without a permit will face up to six months' jail and fines of up to $12,000.

Existing sword owners must surrender their weapons to police, sell them to a licensed dealer or apply to the Chief Commissioner for specific approval.
Collectors and people with legitimate cultural, religious or military reasons to own swords will be exempted from the ban, but must store them under lock and key and have a burglar alarm.

The sword ban follows a string of recent attacks and a regulatory impact statement undertaken by the State Government last year.

Last week, a 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged after allegedly charging police with a sword near Castlemaine, in central Victoria.

A 21-year-old man had his hand severed by a samurai sword in a confrontation between 40 men in the Fitzroy Gardens a fortnight ago -- the second brawl involving swords in 24 hours."

You can read the complete story at:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8907485%255E2862,00.html

[Mikey]

Hay all you Shrimp on the Barbe guys - don't forget to turn in your toothpicks, they can be quite dangerous ya know.................... Mikey.

[BamBams]

Actually, I once perforated my tongue with a toothpick.  You're right, they are very dangerous in the wrong hands.

[clodbuster]

Bambams  I thought you were "lifting my leg"with this tale but ultimately I caught on.  When I lived in limey land there was a tv story about a villain
caught with a bottle of household ammonia and gaoled for a few days.  Again I was gullible and thought it was a joke. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is an offense to carry any stupefying or stunning substance.  I never bought ammonia  after that.  Any lockback pocket knife is also banned. KEEP IT OVER THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[handirifle]

Sure hope no one plays baseball down under.  Gonna get hard to hit the ball with a rubber bat.  When the swords are gone they'll use bats.  Whaere there is a will, there is a way.

What MORONS, sound like our bleeding heart liberals up here.

Spains new president has vowed to remove his troops from Iraq.  I feel sorry for people lead by cowards who cowtail to terrorists.  You always lose in the end.  You cannot live in fear of offending someone all the time.

[Mikey]

was it Jefferson or Franlin who said that he who gives up freedom for liberty has neighter................  Mikey.

[bgjohn]

I new a guy who was arrested for farting in an elevator. :wink:
JM

[Major]

I new a guy who was arrested for farting in an elevator. :wink:
JM

How could you turn it that weapon?  

[Mikey]

Hay Major - do we have go there................ :-D  and LOL.  Mikey.

[bgjohn]

How about hammers? Icepicks? Etc,etc. Glass beer bottles? Sheeit!
JM

[BamBams]

Just imagine the taxpayer burden of having to register your toothpicks, ice picks, glass bottles, etc?

Of course, I'd try to re-coup the money by offering toothpick training courses so everyone could get certified on using them in case some states were allowed to issue Concealed Toothpick Permits.

[Mikey]

We could double the fee and get more money if someone wanted to carry and/or use a two-ended toothpick.  I think the powers that be would, in this situation, place a ban on two-ended toothpicks in favor of having one with just one end and the other ended blunted for safe handling by the authorities who would have to confiscate them.  Doancha think????? LOL.  Mikey.

[handirifle]

you guys do realize you are probably giving them ideas with these posts :grin:

[BamBams]

Well, plastic toothpicks, especially if they are black, should be the first placed on the ban list.  They look scary to me, and can they be picked up by xray machines at airports?

Flat toothpicks seem more benign and safer, so I'll go along with that, but those sharp pointed ones should also be banned, or at least limited to people who can pay a $200 yearly fee.

[Thomas Krupinski]

Police Minister Andre Haermeyer said the ban would help police overcome a culture of young people arming themselves with swords.
'For most people running around the street carrying swords there is absolutely no reason for them to be carrying those weapons,' he said yesterday.

Now how did that movie line go.... something about bringing a knife to a gunfight?