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Earlier today, someone sent me a link to one of the government's petitions. In this case:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Include dance within the historical re-enactment or Sporting Activity exemption for the purchase of swords in reference to the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill."
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dancers/
Which all sounds fine, and something I'm happy to sign. However, perusing the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill, there doesn't seem to be any mention of swords in it at all. I wish people would be more specific and citative[*] when writing these gov.uk petitions.
I've signed the petition, because I think the issue does arise, though in the Draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2008. That's about banning Samurai swords - which they define as curved swords more than 50cm in length. This definition would catch a few non-Samurai dancing swords (mostly from belly dancing, or European sword dancing traditions)[**]. It's clear that the intention of the Amendment would not be to ban swords used for dance purposes, but it'd be nice if it were specifically stated (as it is for martial arts, re-enactment, etc).
I've yet to establish whether the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill and the Criminal Justice Act Amendement interact with each other or are in any way related. Can anyone offer me any tips on how to comprehend the parliament publications ? I'm finding them a bit vast and intractable.
Right, I promise to stop banging on about sword dancing for a bit now.
[*] Yes, thank you, that is a word. Because I say so.
[**] Out of interest it also catches things like 18th century British cavalry sabres, something which is discussed in the report linked above.
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Include dance within the historical re-enactment or Sporting Activity exemption for the purchase of swords in reference to the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill."
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dancers/
Which all sounds fine, and something I'm happy to sign. However, perusing the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill, there doesn't seem to be any mention of swords in it at all. I wish people would be more specific and citative[*] when writing these gov.uk petitions.
I've signed the petition, because I think the issue does arise, though in the Draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) Order 2008. That's about banning Samurai swords - which they define as curved swords more than 50cm in length. This definition would catch a few non-Samurai dancing swords (mostly from belly dancing, or European sword dancing traditions)[**]. It's clear that the intention of the Amendment would not be to ban swords used for dance purposes, but it'd be nice if it were specifically stated (as it is for martial arts, re-enactment, etc).
I've yet to establish whether the Violent Crimes Reduction Bill and the Criminal Justice Act Amendement interact with each other or are in any way related. Can anyone offer me any tips on how to comprehend the parliament publications ? I'm finding them a bit vast and intractable.
Right, I promise to stop banging on about sword dancing for a bit now.
[*] Yes, thank you, that is a word. Because I say so.
[**] Out of interest it also catches things like 18th century British cavalry sabres, something which is discussed in the report linked above.
