• stray
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    4 days ago

    This ban is in response to a large number of teenagers harming and killing each other with mall ninja shit in the UK. It’s been legal for adults to purchase and own them in their own homes, but the sellers have not been diligent, so children are buying them anyway, hence the ban.

    Look up “zombie knife” if you want visual examples, but know that generally the blades are real and not blunt for decoration as a reasonable person might expect.

    The ban doesn’t apply to historical items (which these are not) or legitimate uses (of which these have none).

    • WolfLink@sh.itjust.works
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      4 days ago

      Disclaimer: I don’t live in the UK

      legitimate uses (of which these have none).

      The intended “use” is generally decorational, so I guess whether that’s legitimate depends on how tacky you think it is.

      The blades are real and not blunt for decoration as a reasonable person might expect.

      I have a decorational blade and while the edges are certainly not sharp, it would absolutely result in a lot of bleeding to get hit by it. I have seen some blades that have blunter edges than mine has, but even then it would still be dangerous as a blunt weapon, although no more so than a baseball bat, golf club, or some other form of “sports stick”.

      • stray
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        4 days ago

        The edge you’re taking about is normal for a decorative blade. It’s not good enough to be a real weapon or tool, but too dangerous to be played around with. The “zombie knives” being used by kids in the UK are real blades. The sites I’ve seen use it as a selling point that they aren’t just for show. They’re sharp enough for a kid to stab another through the chest.

        e: Generally also the build quality of decorative blades is very poor, because they’re for decoration. The blade snapping or coming out of the handle altogether and then flying unexpectedly is often how one becomes injured with them accidentally, trying to make a cool video cutting up cardboard or whatever. They’re not practical for any purpose other than as decor.

        • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 days ago

          Kids in all countries play with sharp things, and they far and away know well enough to not stab eachother. Kids who are doing that are psychopaths, it’s not an issue with having access to a sharp stick.