strathspey@strathspey.org:52671

S. Keith Graham

Re: No more sword dances?

June 4, 2008, 1:16 a.m. (Message 52671, in reply to message 52668)

On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 6:23 PM, xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx <xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
wrote:

> Thanks Graham, as mentioned in my post, this thread seems to have been
> based on a misinterpretation of the actual situation, as Briggs and I
> suspected. As there are exemptions, I am sure that the controlled
> public display of swords for sword dancing is not endangered, nor is it
> illegal to borrow someone else´s to practice.


The biggest problem is that it is now illegal to import or sell the items
described, which covers the scimitars usually used for belly dancing.

And the authorities have not been willing to include dance as an accepted
exemption (even when asked specifically), so retailers can be prosecuted if
they sell a belly-dance scimitar to someone for dancing.  And in no case can
the Scimitars be listed for anonymous sale, such as on ebay.

So the problem isn't carrying or dancing with them per se, but being able to
acquire them in the future at all.  And the retailers, who are the ones who
could go to jail or be fined, are the people who won't stock them if they
can't legally be made, imported, or sold.

And they're considering extended it to all straight bladed weapons over 50cm
this fall according to the AKCT (Association of Knife Collectors and
Traders) article.

Keith Graham
xxx@xxxx.xxx