trvlng-w-wpns-msg - 4/16/11

Traveling to SCA events with steel weapons.

NOTE: See also the files: SCA-transport-msg, SCA-by-train-msg, swordsmiths-msg, weapons-msg, blades-lnks, knife-sheaths-msg, Scabbard-Mkng-art, scabbards-msg.

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Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:36:52 +1100
From: I <iosef at gothic.net.au>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] pay to fight
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list"
	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

At 02:17 AM 27/12/2009, Ian Whitchurch wrote:
<<< Iestyn,

When the below happened, what happened? >>>

I was moving some of my gear in the middle of the night through Camberwell. 
My Museum grade Rapier was in the boot (Scabbarded blunt Pannenheimer, no 
rubber tip) in a naval kit bag that was zipped up. I was stopped because my 
rear number plate had been stolen and the patrol car that noticed pulled me 
over. The gear was being moved from a friend house that had secure storage 
and exemption, to my house where I'd just installed the lock box for it. 
The officer requested access to my boot, to check for the number plate 
in case I'd removed it for speed/red light cameras. I complied. He poked 
about and asked to look in the bag for the same reason. I let him know the 
sword was in there and showed my membership card, and the PDF of the 
exemption. I then unzipped the bag, he checked inside and I zipped it up. 
They instructed me to replace the number plate and then asked to look at the 
sword. After that they left.

Politeness helped, but not warning him, and going through the exemption 
would have led to a night in the cells at least. The initial contact had me 
treated as a suspected person.


Iestyn

On 12/27/09, I <iosef at gothic.net.au> wrote:
<<< One thing to remember is that there are two parts to this:

Members at risk. Not the idiot waving the sword in the street, not even the
one at a Tournament or training session with half a dozen others, but the
one stopped on the way to or from.... on a speeding matter, or a Roadworthy
check or for a drugs stop and check, while carrying a properly stored item
or three. As has happened to me before. >>>


Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:15:56 -0800 (PST)
From: Simon Miller <condotierri_au at yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Pay to Fight/Play Poll
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list"
	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

Isn't that the whole point though? A non-member of the SCA did something stupid AND something illegal and claimed to be an SCA member which made it OK.

This wasn't the case, the SCA proved they weren't a member nor were they taking part in SCA activities and were cleared of any wrongdoing. Using it as a scare tactic isn't right and I think fails to highlight the fact that things worked out as they are designed to do. At no stage were we in danger of losing our exemption because the SCA did nothing wrong and could prove it.

Speaking as an ex-Victoria Police member and a current AFP member I can assure you that in 99% of the cases you aren't going to have a problem. "Hi Officer, I am going to my martial arts training down the road here, here's the address do you want to come along and have a look." Will work wonders. If you also voluntarily produce a membership card or membership paperwork then that will also assist a lot.

Don't make the police have to dig information out of you, be open and forward with it and make thier life easy. We like easy, easy means less paperwork, easy means more time to do real police work.

Anton's scenerio was essentially correct, do the right thing and you will be ok, don't bring attention to yourself and you will be left alone. Put your sword in a bag, don't leave it lying about, have your membership or if at training be under the supervision of a member. Nuff said really.

Simon

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	trvlng-w-wpns-msg	2 of 2