Dickheads: NSW Nationals and NSW Police push for “Zombie Knife” ban

New South Wales is becoming meme territory now:

“NSW will ban all zombie knives by the end of the month and owners of these lethal weapons must hand them to police by then. Zombie knives have multi-edged blades, with images, words or markings on them suggesting they are intended to be used for violence.

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant says they have been used in serious crimes in other jurisdictions and are sold online in the state.

“These knives have the potential to cause significant harm to people if used in criminal activity, and there’s also a huge risk of accidents by those using them as props or toys,” Police Minister Troy Grant said in a statement on Saturday.

“From February 28, it will be an offence to have unauthorised possession of, or to buy or sell one of these knives, without a proper permit.”

Anyone caught with a prohibited weapon without a permit faces a maximum penalty of 14 years’ jail. Owners can apply for a permit to have one “but they’ll need a good reason for doing so”, Mr Grant said.

Other prohibited weapons in NSW include flick, ballistic and star knives, knuckle-dusters and Tasers.”

Here’s the actual draft legislation:

In short: knife appearance laws. Troy Grant seems to have pulled a pin out of a grenade and walked away before he retires from politics.

A decorative blade aimed at a fictional concept is banned. Gold gold gold for Australia!

Nevertheless, we wrote to Troy Grant to seek clarification and to make our thoughts known:

“To,
The Hon. Troy Wayne GRANT, MP
Minister for Police, and Minister for Emergency Services

We are troubled to read recent media release from your office claiming to ban ‘Zombie Knives’.

This seems to be little more than simply pandering to media fear mongering – what exactly is a ‘Zombie Knife’ is unclear at best. As best as we can tell it is little more than a media fabrication – an invented term applied broadly and overarchingly to any decorative or large knife. It also appears originally based purely on zombie themed marketing, for what as far as knives go, are little more than cheap toys and gimmicks. Indeed, the only media references relating to this sort of terminology that seem to exist domestically, relate to a single article published by the Daily Telegraph in July of last year.

Having your office dance to the tune dictated by a Murdoch tabloid, whilst predictable, is frankly disgraceful.  

The practical dangers posed by these knives over other knives is nearly impossible to substantiate. Indeed, many of the overly ornate designs and cheap materials used in this style of knife render them as being inferior weapons and instead simply decorative pieces. They pose less actual danger than a typical kitchen, utility or hunting knife.

What exactly is being banned at this point is nearly impossible for us to ascertain, as the new regulation for the Weapons Prohibition Act has not yet been published. A media release, without any sort of detail for what will be a serious criminal offence, is extremely troubling to us.

This lack of detail has led to our members contacting us, out of concern and confusion regarding this ban. As hunters and outdoorsman many of them possess knives, some of which are simply large hunting knives, and yet of the same style that some media outlets have referred to as ‘zombie knives’.

Our organisation would appreciate if the justification for this legislation could be elaborated upon, what knives are being targeted and what transitional arrangements, if any, are in place for owners both private and suppliers? We note media releases seem to suggest these items are being sold from warehouses in New South Wales.

What, if any, compensatory arrangements have been arranged for these suppliers who have had their merchandise rendered contraband, with barely any notice and no consultation?

Yours faithfully,”

Make no mistake, more incrementalism here. First it’s these knives, then it’s your hunting knives and whatever else. Seen this movie too many times to know the plot line inside out.

If you didn’t already have a gazillion reasons not to vote Nationals at the NSW state election you now have at least one.

Looks like Troy Grant has been playing too much Resident Evil with this idiotic ban. However, it won’t do much to stop the political Progenitor virus known as the Nationals from having their heads cut off at the ballot box in the upcoming election.

Vote them out of existence.