Edged Weapon Crimes

[bellevivre]

How do you react when you see heinous crimes enacted with what we consider garb? In the story below (yes, disturbing, so don't read if you are faint of heart) the crime was committed with swords- and so now I have to wonder if the NON rennies of the world who read this story assume that because there were swords in the household, the perpetrator must be one of these 'nut job renaissance fair people'...

Thoughts?

http://snipurl.com/o2u79

[SirRichardBear]

Given how many swords are sold at fantasy and science fiction conventions, not to mention gun shows I doubt if the first thing that comes to people minds in renaissance fair.  It's not like were are high on the general public radar.   

[bellevivre]

I guess I'm paranoid- swords have pride of place in our house and i do NOT want to see the US joining Australia in taking them away!

[SirRichardBear]

Nothing wrong with being paranoid its a healthy defensive mechanism, I'm sure like in the UK, Japan, and Australia once they succeed in banning fire arms the next thing they do will be to go after swords and knifes. 

I another story a gentlemen in the UK was arrested on charges of attempted murder for using a letter opener to defend himself and his son from a gang of five yobos.  Sad state when defending yourself is a crime.

[Lady Christina de Pond]

i wouldn't imediately think of a ren person i guess because i grew up with a love of swords before i every got into fest. I also grew up with a brother who loves swords as much as i do and he isn't a ren fest attender. he doesn't even know what dragon con is or would he be caught dead at a sic fi convention. I just think those who committed these crimes just had swords in close range weather they are

[RSLeask]

As with everything, you'll get a few of the kneejerk hicks (and yes, I mean the ones in suits and such, too) that will go off about anything and everything to do with swords.  It'll happen.  But it'll also fizzle and die off.  Just like the violent video game debate.  Always flares when a news story breaks with a possible link, gets ranted about for a time, then goes away.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Any idiot can pick up a blade and hack an unarmed civie.  Some people have trained with blades their whole life and have respect for the sharp pointies, as well as life in general.  Notice that you never here of a blade master chopping up innocents...

[SirRichardBear]

Pretty much the same with fire arms and it doesn't stop certain types from wanting to ban fire arms.  Its not really a question of safety its a matter of control.  Some people just thing the government i.e. themselves should control everyone and everything.

More and more I agree with Robert A. Heinlein when he said "Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire."

[Lady Christina de Pond]

Any idiot can pick up a blade and hack an unarmed civie.  Some people have trained with blades their whole life and have respect for the sharp pointies, as well as life in general.  Notice that you never here of a blade master chopping up innocents...

true and thankfully we don't

[groomporter]

I think the mother-eating-her-child cannibalism aspect of the case sited in the first message of the thread far outweighs any worry about the tools that were used.

Definitely a case where I'ld be tempted to consider an argument for forced sterilization, and certainly a "'guilty' by reason of insanity" sentence.

[bellevivre]

well... yes. But that kinda wasnt the point which is why I didnt mention it...



I guess I'm just super aware of our status as a 'fringe' group- i work in an office with 50 people I do NOT understand, but i know I am the outsider... and it makes me nervous when things like this happen, and ALL sword owners might get lumped in the same category.

Of course, this morning hubby made a good point and reminded me that all the same atrocities can be comitted with a butcher knife, but the fact is, it will be talked about more because there were SWORDS. Psycho with a kitchen knife is one thing, psycho with SWORDS ads a whole extra level of sensationalism to it...

[Lord Moravec]

I did not read anything in the story about swords just an unfortunate people lacking psychiatric help. Maybe this should be a wake up call to get to know our neighbors better, possibly these tragedies could be avoided to some extent.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Yeah, i saw the sword part... the woman is a nut job.

[Breandan]

I remember in the police academy 14 years ago when they taught us that a suspect with a blade is deadly out to 21 feet due to their ability to hit an officer before the officer can draw and fire his sidearm. Years later I was in a PSD class teaching operators the basics of CQB in urban environments, and we were training for melee combat. One of the guys who we had inherited from Blackwater *cougharrogantbastagescough* snorted at the idea of the 21 feet rule, so our instructor- who knew my training with blades (mix of Krav and Eskrima)- tossed me a rubber knife, and I managed to clear the 18 or so feet between us and drawcut the Muckwater guy's carotid area and poke him in the kidney (which, had the knife been real, would've transected the kidney into the liver, damn near guaranteed fatal) before he could clear his holster and bring to bear.

Moral of the story- doesn't matter how badass and well trained you are, NEVER underestimate a blade.

[SirRichardBear]

Breandan we teached the same thing in my stlye.  Its funny the look you see on thier face when they come to understand what just happened. 

[Bowsmith]

Actually, my first thought reading the fatal injuries was;

"ZOMFG!  Zombie invasion!"

But I'm weird.

[maelstrom0370]

LOL!
Read FARK.com sometime.  There's always a story about so-and-so attacking another so-and-so with a sword/axe/big effin' knife/whip/flail/whathaveyou.

As was already stated above, they're pretty readily available, and just about every psuedo-ninja/pirate-wanna-be has one layin' around.

I don't think the mainstream attatches any sort of Rennie stereotype to these stories.  I think most people just assume that the person involved is just bat-sh*t crazy!  

I have a "gun nut" friend who gets all worked up whenever "assault rifles" are reported to have been used in a crime.  More often than not, they're not actually assault rifles by definition (or so I've been informed), but they are reported to have been such to up the "scare factor" and because most people don't know the difference.  Who knew?  

Oh, and, Breandan? You kinda scare me a little!  

//Now that I've re-read my assault rifle blurb, I'm not really sure what it has to do with the original topic.    I'm sure there's a comparison in there somewhere, though!  

///Ok, I just actually read the article and Whiskey!! Tango!! Foxtrot!?!?!?!?!?  Why is it you need a liscense or permit to do, ohhh, I dunno, just about ANYthing, but any waste of skin with a reproductive system is allowed to be a parent!?!?!?!?!?  I can't even imagine a punishment that would fit this crime, but it probably doesn't matter since she'll most likely be found "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity".  Whatever! 

[maelstrom0370]

Actually, my first thought reading the fatal injuries was;

"ZOMFG!  Zombie invasion!"

But I'm weird.

Dood!! You SO totally RAWK a little!!! 

[SirRichardBear]

The general media is incredibility lazy, every rifle is an assault weapon, every big car is an SUV and every sword is a Katana.

[Brother Robert of Essex]

I did not read anything in the story about swords just an unfortunate people lacking psychiatric help. Maybe this should be a wake up call to get to know our neighbors better, possibly these tragedies could be avoided to some extent.

I didn't see anything mentioned about swords or anything else that would make me even link this to Rennies or garb.. maybe I'm missing something or the article changed.

In any event, it's sad, and weird.

[Monsignor de Beaumanoir]

I remember in the police academy 14 years ago when they taught us that a suspect with a blade is deadly out to 21 feet due to their ability to hit an officer before the officer can draw and fire his sidearm. Years later I was in a PSD class teaching operators the basics of CQB in urban environments, and we were training for melee combat. One of the guys who we had inherited from Blackwater *cougharrogantbastagescough* snorted at the idea of the 21 feet rule, so our instructor- who knew my training with blades (mix of Krav and Eskrima)- tossed me a rubber knife, and I managed to clear the 18 or so feet between us and drawcut the Muckwater guy's carotid area and poke him in the kidney (which, had the knife been real, would've transected the kidney into the liver, damn near guaranteed fatal) before he could clear his holster and bring to bear.

I thought this quite funny, as having recently, as of mid last year, worked with some PSDs in Iraq and brushed elbows with BW folks. You failed to point out why he scoffed at the notion of the 21' rule:

BW believes it's not the 21' you have to cross to make contact with an Operator, but the 30 or so bullets in a magazine you have to dodge to get to him! When in doubt, and empty magazine usually answers all questions.

[Bowsmith]

Actually, my first thought reading the fatal injuries was;

"ZOMFG!  Zombie invasion!"

But I'm weird.

Dood!! You SO totally RAWK a little!!! 

Well, we wouldn't want to overdo it....