Il peut y avoir qu'un seul ...

Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

Somacandra: He should have learned to conceal his special gift and harness it until the time of the Gathering. As it happened his attack was crude and slow, ultimately no better than of a clumsy child.

I'll take swords for $400 Alex.

But can he break a €20?

Ironically, despite strict gun control laws, my native California has little in the way of laws about bladed weapons (so long as they aren't spring loaded)

bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

Just try and carry a long knife. More restricted than firearms.

do highlanders use katanas???

sic semper tyrannis

If they'd given him a gun, he wouldn't have killed anyone. Duh!

r1niceboy: If they'd given him a gun, he wouldn't have killed anyone. Duh!

Right? Then everything woulda been just rosy . . .

Every time I hear a story of a sword attack, I really want to see a mugshot, I dig blades as much as the next guy, but I've known a few borderline psychotic sword fetishist survivalist types and always wondered if they worked at wal-mart their entire lives or ended up bugging out and killing someone.

Crazy French teacher number two. Do I hear three?

Marcintosh: r1niceboy: If they'd given him a gun, he wouldn't have killed anyone. Duh!

Right? Then everything woulda been just rosy . . .

Rosy red. Rosy red all over the place.

Shows them. I bet they'll give him a gun license now!

ronin7: Ironically, despite strict gun control laws, my native California has little in the way of laws about bladed weapons (so long as they aren't spring loaded)

Actually, switchblades are legal in California, as long as the blade is two inches or shorter. Industrial district in downtown L.A. has some interesting weaponry for sale.

ronin7: Ironically, despite strict gun control laws, my native California has little in the way of laws about bladed weapons (so long as they aren't spring loaded)

That's probably because there are already enough divisive topics for politicians to squabble about and/or demonize. If the well ran a little dry (i.e., guns were banned outright, or illegal immigration was solved, etc.), then you might see some "Think of the Children!!!" rhetoric around knives. Knives are not really a problem, of course, but that's not the point (no pun intended).

bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

Not to mention people with really strong hands.

bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

I don't know about the laws in France but I remember a story from not too long ago about the UK banning Japanese (and only Japanese) swords. The UK already had stupidly strict knife control laws. But stupidly strict I mean you have to be over a certain age to buy a butter knife with no real edge and you have to show ID to buy an actual set of silverware.

They took away the stuff that went bang so now they are slowly taking away everything sharp or pointy. The slow bans on assorted blunt objects should be interesting.

I recommend banning corpses. That would eliminate most gun deaths.

farkingismybusiness: Somacandra: He should have learned to conceal his special gift and harness it until the time of the Gathering. As it happened his attack was crude and slow, ultimately no better than of a clumsy child.

I'll take swords for $400 Alex.

"This blade was popular in Kamakura period."

People that attack other people with samurai swords are (probably/usually) several measures more insane than people that attack others with guns, knives, vehicles, staplers, etc...

Who does this?

"ah shiat, now I'm pissed. that tears it, I'm going home and getting my samurai sword and showing these people who's boss around here"

This man is a perfect example of why sane people should be allowed to own and carry firearms.

Just as long as he isn't rejected admission to an art school......

Hacker_X: bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

I don't know about the laws in France but I remember a story from not too long ago about the UK banning Japanese (and only Japanese) swords. The UK already had stupidly strict knife control laws. But stupidly strict I mean you have to be over a certain age to buy a butter knife with no real edge and you have to show ID to buy an actual set of silverware.

They took away the stuff that went bang so now they are slowly taking away everything sharp or pointy. The slow bans on assorted blunt objects should be interesting.

Sounds a little racist...and a lot ridiculous.

Anyone who thinks America or Canada is a "police state" has clearly never been to England. I've also heard that they have laws prohibiting publicly displayed Christmas decorations...especially (exclusively?) those with religious overtones.

Hacker_X: bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

I don't know about the laws in France but I remember a story from not too long ago about the UK banning Japanese (and only Japanese) swords. The UK already had stupidly strict knife control laws. But stupidly strict I mean you have to be over a certain age to buy a butter knife with no real edge and you have to show ID to buy an actual set of silverware.

They took away the stuff that went bang so now they are slowly taking away everything sharp or pointy. The slow bans on assorted blunt objects should be interesting.

I'm ashamed that I know this, but 4chan's weapons board (/k/) has a "BANNED IN BRITAIN" meme.

His sword's name was Eric.

approuve

California's weapons laws are Strange and erratic, Baseball bats are OK, but anything labeled a club is illegal. No blowguns, most martial arts weapons are restricted to the dojo (even instructors can't take them home), nun no weapons that don't look like weapons (sword canes etc.). And most the weapons you can own better stay on you property.

PENAL CODE SECTION 12020-12040
12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a firearm, any camouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which contains or consists of any flechette dart, any bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multiburst trigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol, any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag.

ronin7

Ironically, despite strict gun control laws, my native California has little in the way of laws about bladed weapons (so long as they aren't spring loaded)

You should ask for a refund from the web page that gave you your GED in law.

The UK does indeed have restrictions on ownership of "samurai" swords which have made it harder for actual collectors of antique swords and artistically significant modern nihonto. These laws have done nothing to stem the flood of cheap crap (but dangerous) bs swords.

Ironically some of the most restrictive laws about owning a katana are in place in Japan. In Japan only swords which qualify as art swords (big money) or for use in very specific martial arts training are allowed for ownership.

See? Only one person killed. If he'd gotten his gun, he could have killed the entire office.

A $10 machete from Wal-Mart will kill you just as dead. It will probably hold an edge better than most of the craptastic wall-hanger katanas that people buy, too.

/edged weapons snob
//Fairbain-Sykes FTW

omeganuepsilon: Every time I hear a story of a sword attack, I really want to see a mugshot, I dig blades as much as the next guy, but I've known a few borderline psychotic sword fetishist survivalist types and always wondered if they worked at wal-mart their entire lives or ended up bugging out and killing someone.

I'm disappoint. I'd thought you were somewhat more intelligent than to use that tired old and busted Walmart meme.

The only knife fetishist I now owns his own keyshop and has been in business for 40 years. Since he pulls down $100k-$200k after taxes every year (everybody needs keys, and he is a Master Locksmith) he can afford to indulge his expensive collecting habits, knives, swords and other weapons.

Daviticus: Hacker_X: bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

I don't know about the laws in France but I remember a story from not too long ago about the UK banning Japanese (and only Japanese) swords. The UK already had stupidly strict knife control laws. But stupidly strict I mean you have to be over a certain age to buy a butter knife with no real edge and you have to show ID to buy an actual set of silverware.

They took away the stuff that went bang so now they are slowly taking away everything sharp or pointy. The slow bans on assorted blunt objects should be interesting.

Sounds a little racist...and a lot ridiculous.

Anyone who thinks America or Canada is a "police state" has clearly never been to England. I've also heard that they have laws prohibiting publicly displayed Christmas decorations...especially (exclusively?) those with religious overtones.

Ah, yes, the knee-jerk race card: ZOMFG bans only Japanese swords therefore racist. And the "ridiculous" card: I don't know shiat about the subject therefore my ignorance means that any other position based on anything other than ignorance must be ridiculous.

You're a liberal, right?

A collector friend of mine has a Samurai sword. It is not a period piece, but was recently made in Japan, using techniques similar but superior to those originally used (basically using modern science as well as ancient art to guide the construction process). It took months to make. It cost a small fortune. Swing it at a thick log (or a human torso) with moderate strength and the log/torso is cut in two. Then drop a piece of tissue paper on it, and watch the paper gently divide in two along the blade edge.

One gets the feeling that even looking at it from 3 feet away risks cuts to the eyeballs.

The point being that modern Samurai swords are a huge "cut" above even traditional Samurai swords and really, really, really dangerous. The Samurai sword was refined into a wonderfully precise killing tool during a period when Japan was embroiled in around 600 years of continuous warfare. The modern version is the same - on steroids and meth. So I can see why the ban was limited to modern Samurai swords. Neither racist nor - nanny state idiocies aside - ridiculous.

Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_sword

"United Kingdom: As of April 2008, the British government added swords with a curved blade of 50 cm (20 in) or over in length ("the length of the blade shall be the straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade") to the Offensive Weapons Order.[14] This ban was a response to reports that Samurai swords were used in more than 80 attacks and 4 killings over the 4 preceding years.[15] Those who violate the ban would be jailed up to six months and charged a fine of £5,000. Martial arts practitioners, historical re-enactors and people currently possessing such swords may still own them. The sword can also be legal provided it was made in Japan before 1954, or was made using traditional sword making methods. It is also legal to buy if it can be classed as a 'martial artist's weapon'.[16] This ban applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This ban was amended in August 2008 to allow sale and ownership without license of 'traditional' hand-forged katana."

bookman: Daviticus: Hacker_X: bookman: Swords and knives, obviously, must be banned.

I don't know about the laws in France but I remember a story from not too long ago about the UK banning Japanese (and only Japanese) swords. The UK already had stupidly strict knife control laws. But stupidly strict I mean you have to be over a certain age to buy a butter knife with no real edge and you have to show ID to buy an actual set of silverware.

They took away the stuff that went bang so now they are slowly taking away everything sharp or pointy. The slow bans on assorted blunt objects should be interesting.

Sounds a little racist...and a lot ridiculous.

Anyone who thinks America or Canada is a "police state" has clearly never been to England. I've also heard that they have laws prohibiting publicly displayed Christmas decorations...especially (exclusively?) those with religious overtones.

Ah, yes, the knee-jerk race card: ZOMFG bans only Japanese swords therefore racist. And the "ridiculous" card: I don't know shiat about the subject therefore my ignorance means that any other position based on anything other than ignorance must be ridiculous.

You're a liberal, right?

A collector friend of mine has a Samurai sword. It is not a period piece, but was recently made in Japan, using techniques similar but superior to those originally used (basically using modern science as well as ancient art to guide the construction process). It took months to make. It cost a small fortune. Swing it at a thick log (or a human torso) with moderate strength and the log/torso is cut in two. Then drop a piece of tissue paper on it, and watch the paper gently divide in two along the blade edge.

One gets the feeling that even looking at it from 3 feet away risks cuts to the eyeballs.

The point being that modern Samurai swords are a huge "cut" above even traditional Samurai swords and really, really, really dangerous. The Samurai sword was refined into a wonderfully precise killing tool during a period when Japan was embroiled in around 600 years of continuous warfare. The modern version is the same - on steroids and meth. So I can see why the ban was limited to modern Samurai swords. Neither racist nor - nanny state idiocies aside - ridiculous.

Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_sword

"United Kingdom: As of April 2008, the British government added swords with a curved blade of 50 cm (20 in) or over in length ("the length of the blade shall be the straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade") to the Offensive Weapons Order.[14] This ban was a response to reports that Samurai swords were used in more than 80 attacks and 4 killings over the 4 preceding years.[15] Those who violate the ban would be jailed up to six months and charged a fine of £5,000. Martial arts practitioners, historical re-enactors and people currently possessing such swords may still own them. The sword can also be legal provided it was made in Japan before 1954, or was made using traditional sword making methods. It is also legal to buy if it can be classed as a 'martial artist's weapon'.[16] This ban applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This ban was amended in August 2008 to allow sale and ownership without license of 'traditional' hand-forged katana."

But what if you have really big rats you want to get rid of?

bookman: I'd thought you were somewhat more intelligent than to use that tired old and busted Walmart meme.

They actually did work at Walmart, it wasn't a meme. One in particular worked there for years as a night stocker(probably just because of the job title). He had a weird mullet mohawk ponytail combo and wore a sleeveless trench-coat 24/7 that had an upside down anarchy symbol iron on patch.(From a roleplaying game). He constantly referred to himself as one of his game characters. His admitted life plan was to break into area 51 and expose the government, or something like that.

The dude really did have some serious hang ups. I wasn't bashing anyone who's a fan of knives or anything, just this guy, he was the typical bad egg. The guy really did fit the cuckoo end of the spectrum of any group he was ever in.

Guns don't kill people, Hiro Protagonist kills people.