Carrying Weapons Home From Training
A COUPLE of students of mine were going home recently when they were pulled over by the boys in blue.
The excuse (not that they need one) by the police was that the car they were travelling in was not registered as being from that area.
Asking the lads what it was they had in the back of the car one of my students answered: “Weapons, swords and sticks and things.�
An honest answer, if not maybes the most sensible one!
The copper took a step back with a sharp intake of breath and was most likely thinking about backup, helicopters and the armed response unit!
Luckily my students were able to placate him quickly and pointed out they were martial artists travelling from their place of training back to home.
And, as they had all their weapons safely stored in appropriate carrying cases they were in fact not breaking the law.
My point? With the samurai sword ban now firmly in place PC Plod will be looking to (rightly) enforce the law. So, beware and be safe.
Here are some tips:
· Always carry your weapons in an appropriate carrier case.
· Have your martial arts licence with you.
· Only carry your weapons from home to training and back again. Never take them out of your house at other times – that would be breaking the law.
· If stopped tell the police what you are carrying but don’t attempt to take them out of the bag – that could be seen as being hostile and likely to see you pepper-sprayed, batoned and cuffed in very quick succession.
· If they want to inspect the weapons let them do it themselves and give them plenty of space so they don’t feel threatened.
· Tell the police officer that you have a genuine reason for carrying them and that the method of transportation is firmly within the law.
· If you are arrested call a solicitor before answering any questions – this is a fundamental right under the law.
If anyone would like the Home Office list of banned weapons reply to the post and include your email address in the comment and I’ll send one out to you.
It’s the Big One
The Marfest08 – the big event of the North East’s martial arts calendar is almost upon us.
The event is being held at Seaburn Leisure Centre, Sunderland, on Saturday, 26 April to raise cash for Cancer Research UK and will feature some of the top instructors from around the region.
Groups represented include Western Historical Fighting Systems; Capoeira; Karate, Kempo and Ju-jutsu; Aikido, Kung Fu and pressure point arts plus many more.
Cancer affects one in three in their lives and the more money raised, the more research CRUK can carry out to combat this terrible disease.
So, if you get a chance, pop along and support this event. You never know, the money you donate could be the vital cash that funds new techniques that in the future you or your loved may need.
Older/Newer
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Carrying Weapons Home From Training.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blog.sundaysun.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/16824
Also - please be aware that transporting/having in your possession/ on your property/even having a tentative connection with - a wheely bin which is so FULL that the lid is lifted 0.1 of a micron from its true resting place you WILL be criminalised, DNA taken and fined heftily. Never mind that you are a scrupulous recycler that does not count. If you empty your bin on the pavement - £80 fine. Bin lid slightly ajar - £150 + a whole world of hurt. Could we transport our Wea***s sorry 'Training Aids' in a wheely bin??
There's an old saying 'speak gently but carry a large stick' - this appears to have been switched round by 'big brother', he favours 'bludgeon the Ba*****s' then we'll talk (after we've ripped you off a bit)more.
Where are we living!!!!!!!
'THE FLASHING SKIRT'
Hope to see you all at Seaburn on saturday - (free parking at rear of centre) - they must have missed that one - shhhhh say nowt.
This really gets up my nose...
I can go to a local hardware store and pick up a wooden broom shank, pick axe handle, heavy steel chain and metal rods then carry them home, with a plastic bag taped around them, with no hassle at all. If stopped (which i doubt) i would say i'm doing some garden improvements or DIY, but these items could easily be used to injure an person .
If, when asked by PC Plod, i said they were training weapons for martial arts you could expect to be warned, have the items confiscated or worse.
It is not the weapon's that have created this hysteria but the police own "knee jerk" response to the unfortunate incidents where swords / sticks have been used with fatal results by untrained thugs with no martial arts knowledge or training.
Surely it should be enough to produce a licemce to prove you have a legitimate use for these "training aids" and carry them in a responsible manner.
Is it the Martial Artist's apparent ability to deliberately use these simple items in a deadly fashion that is the cause for concern. Whilst possible, it is unfounded as i dont know of an incident when this has occured.
Is it the training or the weapon?? If i defend myself with a wooden staff, my hands or a tennis racket and the result is the same. It would be my own abilities that could be an important factor, not the weapon.
V good points steven.
Hi all.
MAF8 has kindly been donated a signed sunderland shirt which we hope to auction for Cancer Research UK on saturday at the festival. Its been suggested that I open the field up a bit and allow bids before the event. So if anyone would like to put in a (genuine) bid, please do so - you have untill tomorrow lunchtime. Leave your name, email/contact details etc in case you are successful.
tell as many folk as possible to come along on sat - great day for a great cause.
Cheers
Pete
Hi all.
Just a great big thank you to all for your support for the Sunderland int Festival of martial Arts on Saturday. Bit of a daze for me but everyone seemed to enjoy the day. Brill demo's and weren't the kids great.
Apologies for not factoring in the derby match but being more of a rugby buff I didnt know - I was stuck with that day anyway. We raised - so far - app £2k1 minus hire costs, for Cancer Research UK. Think I will rename the event 'The North East Int Festival of Martial Arts' for nxt one. As the kind people who support the event are from all over the area - we even had Evilina from Poland who is presently working in the area.
Hope e1 enjoyed the day.
All funds raised will be going directly to the Newcastle CRuk Research Centre.
There will be various other seminars/courses/ events going on during the year to raise funds for charity. If anyone needs support for anything maybe we could use this blog as a forum and post details of any events.
Thanks again
Peter
Some very good points Steve.
the original Dangerous weapons act is a good example of knee-jerk policy drawn on the hoof by politicians.
Some of the weapons on it take years to get proficient with and never in a month of Sundays would you see a criminal using them.
However - due where due is merited, the Government did listen to both the sword-ban campaigners and martial artists and have put an exemption in place for those legitimately using those weapons.
As for the Police - I suspect their instinct will be arrest first ask questions later...