Weapons Law

[lightoftruth]

I know this has been saked before but i would like some clariffication.

Whenever i go out i always carry a kubotan with me on my keyring (it does not have a pointed end by the way.) I know the law is an ass but what can i actually do if say someone tries to attack me or nick off with my phone

[SaxyJag]

You are allowed to use reasonable force in order to defend yourself if you're attacked.

So you could push an assailant away and cause him to fall to the ground thus giving you time to run away, but you would be out of order if you then went in and kicked him senseless.

If you were attacked and used the kubotan, you would need to prove that you carried it only for defensive or symbolic purposes, that you only used it as necessary and that you did not go out with the intention of causing harm with it.

It's one of those areas where the law is an ass, I'm afraid. My hairdresser carries scissors in her bag because they're a tool of her trade. They would also come in very handy as a defensive weapon should she be attacked on her rounds (she's mobile), yet if she used them as such, she'd probably be prosecuted for carrying and using an offensive weapon.

[lightoftruth]

I agree with your answer with regards to your hairdresser friend. If people were given back the right to defend themselves to full extent. Then chavs and yobs will begin to realise that if they do go and happyslap someone they gona get my kubotan in there face and will learn from it!!!!!!!!

[undercovers]

i think the point here is that you need to stop saying you carry a kubotan around with you, instead say you carry a big key ring so that you can always find your keys. This is because a kubotan is a weapon so when / if you are attacked you pulled a weapon out and beat your attacker round the head you could be in some legal hot water regarding defence and carrying an offence weapon (almost anything can be an offensive weapon these days it seems so a kudotan must be considered one)... where as if you beat attacker around the head with a key ring that you happened to have in your hand when it all happened officer you should be ok... so when in doubt deny it is anything other than a bit of wood for holding keys.

[jake-the-peg]

And who is it light of truth that's going to decide who's a chav or yob and therefore needs your kubotan in their face?

Sorry I see from your question that you're a crusading avenger protecting the innocent people of Britan from happy slappers

Grow up before you trip over your cape!

[lightoftruth]

i was meaning if they tryed to happyslap me!!!!

[kevb0444]

Jake...i think the point Lightoftruth was trying to make is that if these people who go around "happyslapping" people knew that there victum could possible (and legaly) use more force to defend themselves then they may think trice before doing such a horrid thing.

[mata hari]

Sorry to butt in, but what is a kabutan ??

[taff1949]

i suppose the next step is somebody saying i only carry a 4ft samurai sword in case i get attacked, as jtp said grow up

[lightoftruth]

so your saying that if you were happyslapped or mugged you would take it?

and your telling me that people should not have a right to defend themsleves jtp and taf.

You lot need to come out of the dream world and realise that people will attack you and you should fight back!

[jake-the-peg]

If I were mugged, I would hand over my wallet.

It's not worth somebody getting knifed over a couple of quid and a credit card.

That goes equally well if I came out on top - I wouldn't fancy explaining to the Police how a martial artist came to put some 16 year old with a pen knife in intensive care, they might not see it as self defense.

Happily I've never been mugged, happy slapped or anything similar but then I'm in my 40's, I don't drink and treat other people with respect.

It's worth remembering that almost 80% of violent crimes involve alcohol, and young men are most likely to be victims as well as assailants.

If I had a habit of getting drunk and mouthing off in pubs it might be different.

[stoo_pid]

I've been mugged. When you have a knife pressed into the side of your neck by one guy whilst being punched hard in the face by the other, you are very unlikely to have the presence of mind to reach in your pocket for your macho keyring. If you have any brain cells at all, you do what jake-the-peg says & give them your wallet.

And as saxyjag has already told you, we already have the right to defend ourselves. If you use unreasonable force then you are no different than the thug that attacks you.

You might also want to consider that just carrying around an offensive weapon is an offence, you don't have to use it to get yourself in trouble.

[vicalncraig]

In answer to your question it is not an offence to have an unpointed kubotan as a keyring, but not on a keyring is slightly different. Just put a wire keyring through it, and it becomes a legal to carry keyring.