News
Violent Crime Reduction Bill.
The VCR Bill comes into force on Monday 1st October 2007.
This new law restricts the sale of realistic 'replica' firearms, NOT swords & raises the age of buying knives from 16 to 18.
Hooray for the Government this new law will obviously stop crime as of 12.01am Monday 1st October.
Subject to the mythical belief sturred up by many major newspapers, samurai swords are not banned as of this date the current 'paper' being passed around our Government does not appear to include any sword at all.
So we have a lovely new law to abide by the 'VCR Bill' whereby we cannot purchase, sell or import (not even give away) a 'realistic replica' firearm, this does include by definition toy guns, BB guns, maybe even water pistols. The age for buying a knife, whether domestic (kitchen-garden) or martial arts has risen to 18 years of age.
What it may fail to DO by definition 'Crime Reduction' is to STOP the sale of REAL FIREARMS obviously not readily available in your local shopping store because, we are not allowed to own or purchase them.
OK so you're thinking what the hell is a martial arts magazine editor moaning about replica guns for?
Well i am on the understanding that many martial arts instructors like to use replica guns for martail arts training, to show how ancient techniques can still remain effective for military, police or modern tactical use.
Get the picture?
So if you are a martial artist who uses a replica firearm, you cannot under the new VCR Bill give an old training firearm to a friend, or even you're top student.
If you are an experienced martial artist and study weapons and under the age of 18, you cannot buy a knife HOWEVER !!! everyone has access to a kitchen at home, how many knives are readily available.
I use the term 'readily available' as my daughter who is only 3 can open the kitchen drawer and reach knives, whether or not she has 'intent' in mind is a different issue, her weapon is a plastic spoon to murder chocolate yoghurt - If she can get past the kiddie locks!
However how many households have locking devices to restrict the access on kitchen draws for children aged between 13 & 17 years?
Just to re-cap on the gun thing
Black rubber or black wooden guns readily available for sale in may martial arts shops may be banned.
