Da Sworderly Conduct

Here's a word of warning: if you're planning a visit to England or Wales, leave your samurai sword at home. They have just been banned from sales, production, and importing.

Now, before I start criticizing the culture of someone else's country, let me say straight out -- mine has some pretty flaky social priorities at times, too. I don't even find it too hard to identify with a national bias to "take some weapons off the streets."

But samurai swords?

First of all, are there that many samurai killings going on in England? Sure, the story cites two and mentions "several." Is that enough to merit a ban?

Secondly, why specifically samurai swords? Are they any more potentially lethal that your average Arthurian-type broad sword? Of course, banning a foreign culture is perfectly fine; banning your own culture would be unthinkable. (That's why we in the U.S. honor the spirit and memory of General Washington's automatic assault rifle, donchaknow?)

Thirdly, is a sword of any type that much more deadly than, say, a knife? Sure, you've got several extra feet of reach with a sword, but then on the other hand, you can throw the knife. And if distance is your thing, how about a gun? Or, understanding those are somewhat more controlled across the pond, maybe a bow and arrow?

I'm not trying to say "if we outlaw samurai swords, only outlaws will have samurai swords." I'm just saying that while yes, many laws are arbitrary, this one screams of... uh... arbitrariness.