As many of you know, the UK is proposing a ban on the import and sale of "Samurai Swords"
This is the topic to give updates and information on this misguided attempt to legislate these works of art.

I am copying a bit of the info from the old board, and updates or further info is welcome.

"for all collectors, particularly in the UK, and Europe but this is also important for us all everywhere in the world. The British Government is going to try and ban the selling and import of Japanese swords in the UK and make them basically illegal.
This Word doc was sent to NMB member Paul Bowman.
Please read this official notice from the Home Office in the UK. Please write to Mr. Jonathan Batt, Public Order section and express your concerns over this ridiculous proposal.
I have attached a PDF of the official notice and can put any member in touch with the relevant parties ( collectors in the UK ) if they need more information."
http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/personal/home_office.pdf
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"There has been a lot of activity in July. Clive Sinclair together with members of the British kendo association met ministers in the Home Office and had a good response to their points.
Soon after a Conservative MP deciding that the government weren't moving quickly enough and introduced a private members bill to ban "Samurai Swords" A number of us are in contact with this gentleman and he has recognised that there are differences between the items used by thugs on the street and true Samurai swords.
Northumberland Police have responded to my query regarding the disposal of possibly valuable antiques following the knife amnesty. their response was basically people knew when they handed them in they would be destroyed so its not the polices job to decided if something was worth saving.
I am pursueing this mindless response and am currently in contact with the Chief Constable.

Yesterday the Northern Token Society recieved the following from the Home Office:
“Thank you for your letter of 21 May regarding a possible ban on samurai swords.
I can assure you that the Government does recognise that there is a difference between genuine samurai swords and cheap imitations and that such a difference would need to be reflected in any legislation. This point was made to my Ministerial colleague Vernon Coaker at a meeting with the British Kendo Association and the T-Ken Society of Great Britain.
There is scope within the legislation to make exemptions or defences for certain activities and we will certainly consider making these exemptions for collectors of genuine samurai swords. I should add that there is already an exemption in the legislation for weapons over 100 years old.
I will ensure that you are given the opportunity to comment on our proposals.
If in the meantime you would like to meet with officials dealing with this issue, Catherine Webster, Head of the Offensive Weapons Section would be happy to meet you.”
The reality is I believe that the Government will introduce some sort of ban. They have already confirmed that antiques would be exempt. The challenge now is to ensure that we offer accurate definitions for further exemptions for Shinsaku-To, Gendai-To and Showa-To. A number of people are working on this and we hope to have an acceptable range of exemptions by the time any bill comes in to force (likely to be early next year.
I think there has been solid progress. There is no point in continuing to argue the stupidity or otherwise of such a ban. I am sure it will happen. However based on progress to date and if we continue in this way I believe it will have minimum impact on serious collectors and marshal arts groups.

Paul Bowman"
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"All, we have added a petition to help try and end this ban.

Please sign this, and leave any comment you care. we will be forwarding this on to the appropriate authorities as soon as we have decent numbers.
Also, if you are unaware, the UK government is nor considering changing the policy to include all swords, not just Japanese, so if you collect other types of swords or have friends that do, please pass this on to them.
Cheers
Richard Turner

Note: look out for the check boxes at the bottom, they come up auto checked and I cannot turn this off. Just in case you do not want the junk mail that may ensue."
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SwordBan/
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Taking the nanny state to the next level. What next??? A ban on pointy sticks? Kitchen knives over three inches? Or perhaps we'll all be ordered to walk around in full body armour at all times to prevent accidental injury.

Here we go again! I used to pistol shoot but they managed to put the mockers on that by banning all handguns and guess what? Gun crime went up! I suppose this will mean that I can't go to Tesco now dress as a Shogun carring my two sword's. Welcome to the Granny State!

You should see my wifes kitchen knives, now there's scary!
Perhaps its just that Labour politicians have been in power too long,and they are getting bored; time to vote them out next time?
What happened to freedom of expression?or is it just some freedoms and some expressions,especially those that dont rock the Home Office boat so they can continue uninterrupted making a pigs ear of Jurisprudence in this country.You can just hear the politicians in their close meetings,"Lets throw the public another red herring scare story so they dont ask too many questions which we cant answer."

HenryStewart

Just to follow up on previous.About a week ago I had an astonishing phone conversation with a young man at the Constituency office of my local Labour MP, Mrs Rosie Cooper. I explained to this erstwhile young man that I was over 70,registered disabled and couldnt get about much and therefore could the MP out of her busy schedule spare 10 minutes at my home to allow me to make an ernest representation,and to explain differences in Nihonto and fakes etc;When I told him I collected Samurai swords he nearly had a "duck fit" and said the MP could not be placed in any danger!!!!??? I rejoined I had lived here for nearly 40 yrs,an ex Police Officer and past chair of the local residents association. All to no avail,he insisted he would make a note and said he would telephone the Home Office and tell them of my concern!!Am I losing my marbles or has the UK government lost the plot, or more likely not had it in the first place. As for members of parliament caring for constituents!!sheesh\\\\\\\\\\\\111

All,
As chairman of the Northern ToKen Society, and a recently retired Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries Museum, may I offer a crumb of comfort to those concerned about items handed in to police stations during amnesties. It is true that the attitude taken was one of 'If its handed in take it off them' and some good items were undoubtedly destroyed. Despite this some forces did show some sympathy towards antiques and I was able to rescue a very fine wakizashi with a Tadayoshi blade, a suriage blade in gunto mounts (which I failed to identify because of its condition but which I felt held great promise), and finally a Tokyo Arsenal made gunto in the most pristine mounts I have ever seen.

Similar rescues occurred previously and all of these items have become part of the Museum's collection and are now available for study.

Ian Bottomley

Hi Ian, Good work. Nice to know. John

Henry,

That really is sad to hear. It is truly sad how brainwashed some people can get when told what to think. I know a relative of my girlfriend was horrified in the Uk when some young thugs broke into his house and stole his old Scout knife among other things. He was distraught at the fact that thee was now a "deadly knife" out there in the hands of criminals. Goodness knows what mindset has to set in to lead to thoughts that some pointy objects are weapons whereas kitchen knives are harmless.
Goodness knows the danger you posed to the MP. YOu never know when those deadly "Samurai Swords" will decide on their own accord to fling themselves off the walls and attack people at random.

Ian, that is great news, glad to hear they were saved and there are some sensible attitudes out there. It does, however, turn my stomach to think that there are people out there who will turn in antique art like a Tadayoshi to be willingly destroyed in this day and age. I would hate to hear of some that didn't get rescued.
You guys are doing a wonderful job of protecting them within your abilities though. Please keep us informed.

Regards,
Brian

Brian

My thanks for your observations.I have received a letter from Rosie Cooper M.P saying she has written to the Home Office and will let me know when she has a reply. As a gentleman I will desist from direct criticism of a lady but as I suspect my M.P. wouldnt know Nihonto from a bulls foot; just what the letter to the Home Office said by way of explanation exercises the mind greatly??But what the Home office reply will be to this letter beggars belief!!
and so the saga continues.
Henry

Gentlemen
I have now received a reply from Rosie Cooper MP,in which she sends me a copy of a letter from the Home Office. It is from a Vernon Coaker,Minister responsible for policy in this area.He continues to refer to "Samurai Swords" being used in violent crime. I suppose we should be grateful that they are now quoting theswords in inverted commas. In my opinion its quite clear there is no evidence relating to genuine samurai swords in relation to the Offensive Weapons order in this respect,hence the inverted commas.
He continues to say he will publish responses he has received by the end of November.
We await with interest!
Henry

Next thing you know, they will try to ban water as it can make you drown and air because it can spread deadly gas...

Get a grip already, politicans!

Man, Henry... i know alot of people, me included, who would have loved to receive such invitation from an experienced nihonto student, some people just are clueless...

There's no freedom without danger. Generations shed their blood to gain it. Let's not give it away just like that.

reinhard

Hello Remzy and Reinhard;

Many thanks for your comments; I do so wish that this was a genuine consultation and not a smoke screen to con the public as it clearly is,the politicians having already made up their mind and sod what anyone else says.

Look at the record; I can remember the Labour Minister for Post leaving his clothes on an American beach giving the impression he had drowned only to be found alive and well;conversley the Conservative Minister sharing a bed with a lady not his wife who later shared the same bed with a top Russian spook,or the politicians jailed for committing perjury (lying),or the strange case of the party mystery donations!! They then have the cheek to ask for respect.I could go on but whats the point. You are right we have squandered millions of lives in the name of freedom,but then I need to look at Westminster and ask 'who's freedom?and for what'
When you become an MP and pick up £100,000 in salary and expenses and a generous pension and dont need any qualifications to get the job,what the hell do you expect to get?Someone to care for the interest of others!!Grow up will you!!!
Henry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/28/newsid_2527000/2527805.stm

with the world population topping 6,6 billion people and counting there is no shortage of lunatics running around the planet, in fact it could be argued rather easily that a number of heads of state fall into this category these days. None the less, and in view of staying on topic here, the headline and article linked above in all likelihood, will only work to increase the burden on nihonto collectors in the UK of peeling away social fear and ignorance in order to continue their nihonto collecting passion.

One thing for sure I think,is that we all should see something proposed by weekend..We assume the Ministers involved will at least do as they say and publish by the end of the month.though I do wonder just where will they publish?
Henry