strathspey@strathspey.org:52699

Bob McArthur

RE: No more sword dances?

June 5, 2008, 10:47 a.m. (Message 52699, in reply to message 52611)

What concerns me most is how possession of a sword for artistic or
traditional reasons may/can be interpreted by the local law
enforcement authorities.
 
Last year a group of our club members performed a Guard of Honour at
the wedding of a members daughter much to the delight of the wedding
party and other guests. This was outside the church in the centre of
town.
 
It would appear that we could have run into problems under the 2006
legislation dependent on how this occasion was regarded by a local
beat officer and how 'difficult' that officer decided to be on the
day.
 
Just yesterday the front page of our local paper was devoted to the
case of someone getting a two year custodial sentence for supposedly
innocently hanging a shotgun (sawn off!!!) as a wall ornament and with
no ammunition available in the premises.
 
Not the best place to secure a firearm, legally held or not but how
many buildings with public access do the same with firearms as museum
display items and how many swords are hung on display?
 
Innocent action or not?  Who Knows?
 
It does concern me that there is too much ambiguity about the current
legislation in England and Wales and it is important that this is
clarified properly to safeguard the innocent participant from over-
zealous law enforcement bodies.
 
 
Bob McArthur
Bournemouth, UK