Dear All,
I hope that this mail finds you all well.
This initial mail goes out to all individuals, groups, businesses=20
and national bodies concerned with preserving the heritage and=20
various practices of the sword in Scotland today, and ultimately=20
throughout the UK.
This follows further to the recent proposals by Scottish First=20
Minister Mr. Jack McConnell to ban the sale of swords in Scotland and=20
also the carrying of swords in a public place. A recent Scotsman=20
article on the subject can be found at the following page, ~=20
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=3D1345182004
From this, Mr. McConnell is quoted as saying "The sale of swords in=20
Scotland today is fundamentally wrong. There can be no reason for=20
people buying swords off the street for use or to have in their=20
homes."=20
This is of a great concern and direct threat to many legitimate=20
businesses and practices in Scotland today, namely swordmakers,=20
antique dealers, tourist shops, sports fencers, historical fencers,=20
theatrical fight directors, re-enactors, Eastern martial artists,=20
Highland dancers, religious sword bearers, auctioneers, wholesalers=20
and distributors, collectors, museums and national heritage bodies.
Most of the Executives proposals are concerning knives and combating=20
knife crime, which is a genuine conncern for all, and these measures=20
on the whole seem perfectly reasonable given the extent of serious=20
knife crimes carried out in Scotland. The one proposal issue that has=20
not been fully considered is the one concerning swords, namely (from=20
Scotsman article) ~
=20
"=95 Banning the sale of swords. While the sale of swords would be=20
outlawed under the proposals, the Executive has no plans to ban=20
swords being kept in private homes. There would, however, be a ban on=20
the possession of a sword in a public place."
The additional ban on possession of a sword in a public place=20
affects legitimate and law abiding citizens concerned with=20
swordmaking, restoration, martial arts, historical fencing, re-
enactment and sports fencing practice, fight directors and museums=20
and national heritage bodies that present public demonstrations and=20
historical events involving sword use. All of these above businesses=20
and practices neccessarily involve the transportation and carrying of=20
swords in public places.
The Executive intends to make these present legitimate practices=20
arrestable offences under the new proposals.
The rich history of Scotland is inextricably one with the iconic=20
symbol that our forefathers stood by and preserved culture and=20
freedom by for centuries. Is the Scottish Executive justified in=20
outlawing our legitimate heritage of the sword in Scotland?
The additional political concern and potential is of course that=20
successful implementation of these proposals may then be adopted in=20
England in the same way, affecting the UK as a whole.
So what can we do? As much representation both individually and=20
collectively as possible from Scotland and throughout the UK should=20
be presented directly to the relevant departments of the Scottish=20
executive before final decisions are made upon this matter=20
(reportedly as early Jan/Feb 2005). That is why we must act NOW to=20
make a difference and have our voices count. It is down to none other=20
than ourselves at this time to make our real and serious concerns=20
heard and known to the Executive.
Make your own voice heard directly. E-mail the First Minister and=20
the Justice Minister directly at the following addresses,
jack.mcconnell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk cathy.jamieson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
The criminal justice sherrif concerned with the wording of the=20
proposals and law can also be contacted directly regarding our=20
concerns at the following address,
Richard Scott,
Scottish Executive,
Criminal Justice Division
St. Andrews House,
Regent Road,
Edinburgh
EH 1 3DG
Or e-mail to:
Richard.Scott@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
You can also fax your local MPs for free at=20
http://www.faxyourmp.com/ by typing in your local postcode.
Please forward this mail to as many individuals and groups within=20
the UK that you may know who would wish to express concern directly=20
to the Executive on the issue of banning the sale and carrying of=20
swords in Scotland.
The Save Our Swords national petition and campaign is an opportunity=20
for one collective national voice to be presented to the Scottish=20
Executive proving our strength and size of opposition to the ban=20
along with relevant facts and figures such as the statistical=20
proportion of swords to knives actually used in crimes in Scotland=20
and the annual revenue generated by sword sales on Edinburgh High=20
Street alone that contributes to the Scottish economy. Media coverage=20
shall also highlight our campaign in effort to make as much impact=20
upon the Executive as possible.
The Save Our Swords online petition is available for all to sign and=20
forward to all concerned parties. This can be found at=20
http://www.petitiononline.com/Swords/petition.html
A petition file attachment for printing to hard copy is also=20
available and can be forwarded by e-mail through contacting myself=20
directly at
macdonaldacademy@aol.com
As many legitimate signatures as possible are required by the end of=20
December. Please observe the deadline and for hard copy petitions=20
post directly to the address listed at the bottom of the petition=20
sheet.
By individual and collective representation, we can make a=20
difference. Act today and help make that difference. The future of=20
Sword in Scotland is in your hands. Save Our Swords!
Yours Very Truly,
Mo. Paul Macdonald,
Macdonald Armouries,
Macdonald Academy of Arms,
Dawn Duellists Society
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier b=
lunts and leather gorgets.
http://www.woodenswords.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
=20
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