changes to weapons legislation

[mrsbrown]

Being notes I need to have available so I can write a response to the proposed changes. Feel free to comment.

DEFINITIONS
the Control of Weapons Regulations includes the following definitions wrt equipment used by SCA peeps:

Prohibited weapons
2. "Dagger", being a sharp pointed stabbing instrument (other than an oyster knife), ordinarily capable of being concealed on the person and having—
(a) a flat blade with cutting edges (whether serrated or not serrated) along the length of both sides; or
(b) a needle-like blade, the cross section of which is elliptical or has 3 or more sides, but not including instruments such as swords or bayonets.

Controlled weapons
1. "Crossbow", being a type of bow fixed transversely on a stock grooved to direct a dart, bolt or arrow, other than any type of crossbow listed as a prohibited weapon in Schedule 2.
3. "Baton" or "Cudgel", being a short stout stick made of any material designed as a weapon, including the weapon commonly known as a "police nightstick".
5. "Sword", being a thrusting, striking or cutting weapon with a long blade having 1 or 2 cutting edges and a hilt.

SUMMARY OF REVISED REQUIREMENTS
The requirements for compliance with the exemption are different for different groups. There seem to be three general requirements for the sword exemption with groups slotted into a low, medium and high type risk.

Low risk groups are museums, performing arts companies, scouts, people who have inherited a max of two swords, and people who own swords "immediately prior to the commencement of this order" that have "never had a sharpened edge or edges"

Medium risk groups are Fencers and Historical Fencers, Scottish Highland Dancers and Pipe Bands

High risk groups are collectors, historical reenactment organisations, and martial arts

Low risk people have to store weapons securely and don't need a group for the exemption to apply.
Medium risk groups have to store weapons securely.
High risk groups have to store weapons securely, keep records of members and their location, issue photo id for members. Members can't buy a sword until 6 months after becoming members, and have to keep a record of swords bought and sold.

Crossbows and Daggers are a separate exemption class. Crossbows need to be stored securely, daggers need secure storage and you can't buy a sword (sic) for 6 months after becoming a member of the organisation with the exemption.


DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SCA MEMBERS DO WITH CONTROLLED AND PROHIBITED WEAPONS
Daggers
Daggers within the SCA are never "ordinarily capable of being concealed on the person".
Sometimes carried as part of costume (insert 14C picture of bollocks dagger),for this use they may be sharp. (Is this right?) (Like a drama company)
Used as one of the weapons forms for historical fencing. (But our daggers don't meet the definition)

Crossbow
Used with sharp arrows for target archery
Used with blunted arrows for combat archery against armoured fighters (insert picture)

Baton
Sticks made of rattan are used as part of the armoured fighting re-creation, like historical fencers. (insert picture)

Sword
Swords always have blunted edges.
Sometimes carried as part of costume, particularly for renaissance dancing - like the scottish highland dancers, or a drama company
Used as one of the weapons forms for historical fencing. - like the historical fencers
Used ceremonially - like scouts

CONCLUSION 

We should be arguing that the SCA is most like the low-medium risk groups and the additional requirements are an unnecessary impost on a small, family oriented volunteer based cultural organisation. 

Comments

[hnpcc]

I don't understand the logic behind the three levels. Why on earth would historical re-enactment groups and collectors be higher risk than fencers? I mean I'm assuming it's a "number of likely weapons available in case of burglary" thing - but sheesh, at that point surely chefs, builders, gardeners and everyone else who cooks with knives or stakes up tomatoes should be considered high risk?

God our weapons legislation is inconsistent at times.

[tangent_woman]

I'm trying to identify the rationale behind the three categories.

It would make sense if it were:
Low risk: weapons are used for display and decorative use only
Medium risk: weapons are used for display, decorative use and practical non-combat use
High: weapons are used for display, decorative, practical non-combat and in combat in accordance with the group combat style.

But the point of difference between collectors of weapons intended to be used in anger, and created to be able to inflict harm or martial arts groups where weapons might or might not be rebated, or other reenactment groups where metal swords are used in some of their styles of combat is that SCA combat weapons are invariably rebated. If they pose a risk of harming someone, they cannot be used in combat. It's against the rules of the organisation. This is, I believe, unique to the SCA.

For that reason, there is not much risk that SCA weapons will be used in crimes if they are stolen. And their owners know they are designed specifically not to be dangerous, so if they were looking to pick up an actual dangerous weapon with which to do someone harm, surely their SCA combat weapons would be the last thing they'd choose? A pry-bar would be a more effective weapon than an SCA sword, IMO, and I am unaware of laws mandating that pry-bars be kept under lock and key.

The SCA weapons most able to be used in a criminal manner are the daggers which are not used in combat, or in ways that are "high risk". Indeed they are used in ways that are consistent with "low" and "medium" risk groups; as display/decoration (as with theatrical groups) or for eating with (as with the scouts).

(Those are my immediate thoughts, but I might come back to add more.)