Arrested or questioned for wearing sgians

[Leatherneck Donald]

Wow, that is awful. At the Richmond, Va. Celtic Festival and Games, there are thousands of guys and gals walking around in kilts, wearing sgian dubhs, dirks, and swords of every size and shape. Most are drunk, and I've never seen a fight, disturbance, or even an argument. Plenty of cops around, but they take no care or issue with all of the heavily armed folk. The year I wore my OD Utilikilt, I carried my full size USMC Ka-Bar on my belt. Usually, I wear a handmade sgian in my hose top whether going out to dinner, a pub, or just hanging out.

[Manxstralian]

Even more so because there's not that many places in the inner city which aren't within 20 metres of a pub, club, or bar. And in theory, going to the beer tent at a Highland Games could cost you more than an overpriced pint!

Cheers,

Cameron

[Aussie_Don]

I have a Sgian which I made from a blade and antler tip I bought in Scotland, but have worn it exactly twice (both at weddings), due to the absurdly strict knife laws in Victoria:

New Weapons Laws

Release date: Thu 3 June 2010
Last updated: Fri 13 August 2010
The Victorian Government has introduced new laws to target knife crime.
From 22 August 2010

You can be searched for knives in a public place anywhere, anytime, with and without notice.
If you are 16 and over and get caught carrying a controlled weapon such as a knife, you face an on the spot fine of $1,000, or you may have to go to court and face a fine of over $14,000 or one year imprisonment.

This penalty is doubled if you are inside or within 20 metres of a pub, club or bar.

I've not really wanted to test the law by carrying it to a police station to ask, since I could theoretically be arrested on the spot. So for me, it's a Sgian Brew (which could still lead to detainment/questioning by people who have far more important things to do), or nothing at all. I choose nothing at all. I know Mike (Downunder) wears one, but again, I get the feeling I spend more time in pubs than he does.

I know of a friend who was detained for carrying a Stanley knife, and was actually taken to her home by the police to show she was enrolled at the Victorian College of Arts, and had a legitimate reason to be carrying a "weapon".

Cheers,

Cameron

Interesting... I've never had a problem -- and at festivals I'm in and
out of locations where alcohol is served. The law also says that in the
context of traditional dress, there is an exemption, provided the blade is
less than about 8cm. And most Sgians are less than this size.

-Don (Also from Melbourne)

[Manxstralian]

I grew up in Bjelke-Petersen era Queensland.... I'm not testing that law out. If you catch my drift.

Cheers,

Cameron

[Aussie_Don]

I grew up in Bjelke-Petersen era Queensland.... I'm not testing that law out. If you catch my drift.

Cheers,

Cameron

Yeah, I've been in Oz long enough to remember a Royal Commission
or two.

-Don

[A Lenape Scot]

Good grief. I am from the American west where you are not considered a responsible man if you don't have a knife. I was raise believibg that a man keeps a pocket knife with him anytime you go out of the house. I never know when I am going to need it. I have used it as a screw driver, for cutting, drilling, starting fires, prying, 1st aid, or whittling wood to a shape needed for a multitude of tasks. I have even used it on a few cases to cut horses from from rope they were tangled up in. If I did not have it on me the poor animals could have been much more injured than they were. I very seldom know when I am going to need a knife but I use one nearly every day. I cannot fathom so much animosity people have towards a small simple knife. I could commit a crime better with a crescent wrench as a weapon that a 3.5 inch knife.

[Manxstralian]

Yeah, I've been in Oz long enough to remember a Royal Commission
or two.

-Don

And I was in Queensland long enough to remember being tossed down the odd flight of stairs for no real reason... Subsequently, I'll keep well within the letter of the law these days.

Cheers,

Cameron

[KentuckyCeltophile]

Have I bored you lately with the link to Craig Ferguson's rant about going to a wedding and having to rent a plastic Sghian Dhub for the occasion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5_nIcbkrU

"A hundred Scotsmen with daggers at a wedding with an open bar….what could go wrong?"

"If I had to stab someone at that wedding, I would have been so embarrassed!"

--"I'm offended. I was expecting to be stabbed. Not tickled!"

KC

[Manxstralian]

Good grief. I am from the American west where you are not considered a responsible man if you don't have a knife. I was raise believibg that a man keeps a pocket knife with him anytime you go out of the house.

That's how I was raised too... Then again, I mostly grew up in the country, and the city is a different beast altogether. I think it's a knee-jerk reaction to a few bad incidences, and a futile one, since outlaws (by definition) won't obey the law anyway.

Cheers,

Cameron

[KentuckyCeltophile]

That's how I was raised too... Then again, I mostly grew up in the country, and the city is a different beast altogether. I think it's a knee-jerk reaction to a few bad incidences, and a futile one, since outlaws (by definition) won't obey the law anyway.

Cheers,

Cameron

That and the fact that knives/guns don't kill people, people with knives/guns kill people. I prefer not to be a victim.
KC