England bans horror movie-inspired 'zombie knives'

[CF DolFan]

LONDON — A ban on “zombie knives” — ornate horror-movie inspired blades with serrated edges — will come into effect in England and Wales this week.
.....

The ban on the sale, manufacture and importation of zombie knives will come into force on Thursday.  Anyone caught breaking the law faces up to four years in prison.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/16/england-bans-horror-movie-inspired-zombie-knives/88817926/

I thought this was an SNL joke but apparently it is not.  I'm curious what the gun control crowd has to say about it. Does this seem rather excessive to anyone other than me? 4 years in prison even??? 

[Spider-Dan]

I believe nunchaku are banned in many areas of the U.S., are they not?  I don't think it's too big of a deal.

Up to four years doesn't really tell you a whole lot.  Lots of crimes here have up to sentences that don't reflect what people actually get.

[Phishfan]

From reading the article, is the middle one the only one considered a "zombie knife"? That little one looks like a pocket knife you can buy from any store.

[DaLittle B]

I have no problem with it,as we are different countries,and have very different feelings on things...They have vastly different gun laws,strict laws on advertising,and how campaigning during elections are...What we are allowed walk around with in public is probably pretty horrifying to them,(somewhat to me too).

Here in Missouri, Nothing more than 4" inch blade is legal to carry.(Then you have the whole concealed weapon side of it)..

[pondwater]

More silliness, a knife is a knife. A gun is a gun. A blunt object is a blunt object. Now go ban fire axes, machetes, hedge clippers, and box cutters

[CF DolFan]

It's not just big knives and is rather vague if you ask me. This is from their Code with the amendment following it.

141 Offensive weapons.

(1)Any person who manufactures, sells or hires or offers for sale or hire, exposes or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire, or lends or gives to any other person, a weapon to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence and liable

[F1(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years, or to a fine, or to both.]

.
(2)The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument direct that this section shall apply to any description of weapon specified in the order except—

(a)any weapon subject to the M1Firearms Act 1968; and

(b)crossbows.

Amendment of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988

2.—(1) The Schedule to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988(1) (which specifies offensive weapons for the purposes of section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1, after sub-paragraph (r) insert—

“(s)the weapon sometimes known as a “zombie knife”, “zombie killer knife” or “zombie slayer knife”, being a blade with—

(i)a cutting edge;

(ii)a serrated edge; and

(iii)images or words (whether on the blade or handle) that suggest that it is to be used for the purpose of violence.”.

[Dave Gray]

I don't like the wording, but what can you do?  It's not American law, so there is a different precedent, standard, and court system to try it.  It's not really apples to apples with our justice system. 

We did have some similar pornography laws for a while, in the realm of "I know it when I see it."  This sounds similar.  Hard to describe...

[CF DolFan]

I don't like the wording, but what can you do?  It's not American law, so there is a different precedent, standard, and court system to try it.  It's not really apples to apples with our justice system. 

We did have some similar pornography laws for a while, in the realm of "I know it when I see it."  This sounds similar.  Hard to describe...

Yes ... that was a weird time. Some places's deemed all porn "illegal" as they considered it "obscenity" while others couldn't care less.

[Sunstroke]

I think at least 4-5 of the blades I have at home would qualify, at least by the description noted in the article, as zombie knives. I've never seen an actual zombie, but if a zombie outbreak occurs in Boynton Beach, I'll be ready for it...

[Dave Gray]

Wouldn't these make poor knives for fighting zombies?  With solanum softening the skin and even the bones, I'd think that a smooth stabbing surface is enough to pierce into the brain.  Short of that, anything with edges like this are more likely to get caught in the flesh or bones of an already dead zombie, ending up with you getting bitten.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ A long, but light, samurai sword would seem to be the optimal tool for the task of decapping zombies. Seems to work pretty well for Michonne...

[Phishfan]

Wouldn't these make poor knives for fighting zombies?  With solanum softening the skin and even the bones, I'd think that a smooth stabbing surface is enough to pierce into the brain.  Short of that, anything with edges like this are more likely to get caught in the flesh or bones of an already dead zombie, ending up with you getting bitten.

But if the skin and bones are softened, wouldn't it be the knife is less likely to get stuck?

[CF DolFan]

I'm with Dave. Seems to me that having just a long screwdriver is a better weapon than the serrated blades.

[Tenshot13]

Serrated blade can be used for other survival situations than just killing zombies, which will come up if the world is overrun with zombies.  2 for 1 tool.  Maybe not as efficient in zombie killing, but multi purpose.

[DaLittle B]

I guess I'd rather have an axe,and a pole arm then!