With ANY amount of foresight, folks should see that this is just an extension of the logic behind gun control legislation...

People are hurting others with guns, ban 'em.
People are hurting others with swords, ban 'em.
People are hurting others with martial arts, ban 'em.

Can it be so far behind? This nanny state nonsense is a slippery slope, I think.

I'd be interested in hearing if KFO has any members specifically from Victoria, and if this law will affect their practice? Is your kwoon part of the "exempt categories"? The next step, I'd guess, will be charging those "exempt categories" a fee/tax for the "privilege" of sword ownership.



I get angry over stuff like this, because there's honestly people in this country who'd GLADLY do the same thing. Here's a link to the article:

http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/0...594279264.html


Honestly, it's up to each of us to rabidly defend the freedoms we (in the U.S.) enjoy AND the freedoms of our countrymen...even if we think they're doing something crazy/silly/wasteful/immoral. As long as their freedoms don't infringe upon the freedoms of anyone else. Owning a sword doesn't hurt anyone, it's the idiot swinging it. Punish him, not the untold number of lawful sword owners.

Late add on:
Researching this a bit more, I see that they've ALREADY insisted on a $135 "registration fee"...and that it's already affecting non-violent collectors. Here's a link:
http://news.com.au/common/story_page...5E1702,00.html