David Brewer (david@brewer.to)
Tue, 01 Aug 2000 23:38:10 +0100
Rob Lovett wrote:
>
> HI there,
> > >
> > >But, what you are doing is, let's face it, a
> > >crime.
> >
> >It is not a crime. If it were there would be mass arrests at reenactment
> >shows across the UK.
>
> Erm, I think in the situation that is being discussed, walking across a park
> with a blunted steel sword is an offence, whether the officer decides
> whether it is worth pressing the charges or not depends entirely upon that
> officers interpretation of the law and how pissed off he/she is feeling.
I'm not a lawyer (nor do I play one on television) but I strongly
disagree over whether this is an offense. If you have a legitimate
reason to have a sword somewhere (e.g. at a reenactment or at a
practice) then it is not an offensive weapon, it is a piece of
*equipment* and you are perfectly entitled to take it to and from
this location, to some place of storage.
Imagine if it was otherwise: I go into a shop and buy a kitchen
knife. As soon as I leave the shop (so I can take it back to my
*kitchen*) I am arrested for carrying an offensive weapon. That
simply isn't going to happen.
[...]
> Which situations is it legal to carry a sword in the park at night. If you
> walked down the street with a sword in your hand not swinging it - you could
> be stopped and arrested quite easily.
I was stopped by the police once while carrying a halberd... they
asked me if I wanted to take part in an identity parade, offering
money. I pointed to the halberd and told them I was on my way
somewhere to do something, so they drove off.
> >Also remember many items can be defined as an offensive weapon from a piece
> >of wood up.
> Even a key, or three coins and a newspaper, a steel comb - the list of items
> can go on and on.
...but only if a magistrate/jury will believe that you intended to
use it as an offensive weapon. If there are witnesses saying, yes,
you were at an event/practice (and do this regularly) and the park
in question is on your way home then the chances of being
convicted
of anything are, let's be honest, nil, nada, zip, bugger all.
If you skulking outside a nightclub with a sword, your chances of
getting off reduce dramatically, likewise with a kitchen knife.
-- David Brewer"It is foolishness and endless trouble to cast a stone at every dog that barks at you." - George Silver, gentleman, c.1600
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