Post by LongBlade on Oct 28, 2005 23:17:16 GMT -6
Sword-maker in plea over weapon ban
The Scotsman.com
Scottish news direct from Scotland
29th October 2005
news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2147172005
A sword-maker is to urge MSPs to oppose any proposals that would outlaw the sale or ownership of the weapons.
Paul Macdonald will make his plea to members of Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee on behalf of the Save Our Swords campaign.
It comes at the same time as the Executive is carrying out a consultation on the sale of swords as part of its crackdown on knife crime.
Mr. Macdonald, 33, a former fencing instructor who now makes and sells swords, fears any new laws could also affect those who use them for perfectly legitimate reasons.
He is concerned that Highland dancers, fencers, collectors, antiques dealers, battle re-enactment groups, theatre companies and thousands of heritage enthusiasts could lose out if they become illegal.
And he argues banning the sale of swords will do very little to reduce the number of knife crimes in the country. Mr. Macdonald claims that only approximately 1% of all knife-related crimes each year involves the use of a sword.
Mr. Macdonald has been making and selling reproductions of historical swords at his Macdonald Armouries shop since 1998 and many of his customers are battle re-enactors and collectors, although he has also made several weapons for the famous Globe Theatre Company in London.
In addition he runs a fencing school, which teaches swordmanship and traditional fighting styles.
A Scottish Executive spokesman explained a consultation on the issue is being carried out and has not yet announced definite proposals.
He said: "We are keen to tackle the use of these weapons as part of our problem with knife crime. However we do realise that there is an issue around the traditional and ceremonial use of swords."
The Scotsman.com
Scottish news direct from Scotland
29th October 2005
news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2147172005
A sword-maker is to urge MSPs to oppose any proposals that would outlaw the sale or ownership of the weapons.
Paul Macdonald will make his plea to members of Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee on behalf of the Save Our Swords campaign.
It comes at the same time as the Executive is carrying out a consultation on the sale of swords as part of its crackdown on knife crime.
Mr. Macdonald, 33, a former fencing instructor who now makes and sells swords, fears any new laws could also affect those who use them for perfectly legitimate reasons.
He is concerned that Highland dancers, fencers, collectors, antiques dealers, battle re-enactment groups, theatre companies and thousands of heritage enthusiasts could lose out if they become illegal.
And he argues banning the sale of swords will do very little to reduce the number of knife crimes in the country. Mr. Macdonald claims that only approximately 1% of all knife-related crimes each year involves the use of a sword.
Mr. Macdonald has been making and selling reproductions of historical swords at his Macdonald Armouries shop since 1998 and many of his customers are battle re-enactors and collectors, although he has also made several weapons for the famous Globe Theatre Company in London.
In addition he runs a fencing school, which teaches swordmanship and traditional fighting styles.
A Scottish Executive spokesman explained a consultation on the issue is being carried out and has not yet announced definite proposals.
He said: "We are keen to tackle the use of these weapons as part of our problem with knife crime. However we do realise that there is an issue around the traditional and ceremonial use of swords."