[GZFL2tDA]

This news clip from the
"Home of the Brave, and the Land of the Free" ?
The State of New Jersey, USA


http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-d..._sword_in.html

Man had large Samurai sword in car, Raritan Twp. police report
Published: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 2:58 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 3:33 PM

RARITAN TWP. — George C. Pereira, 43, of East Brunswick was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon following a traffic stop on Route 202-31, police reported today.

Pereira was initially stopped Aug. 26 around 8 p.m. for driving with a suspended driver’s license, police said. While Pereira’s vehicle was stopped, Patrolman Christopher Vallat saw that a large Samurai sword was lying across the rear floor of the vehicle, police said.
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Some of the reader comments are funny

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Dupwee August 31, 2010 at 3:42PM

Maybe the guy is a Samurai... Duh??
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[johnstylet]

Seems pretty sensible.

[excivaamome]

I wouldn't be surprised at the weapons charge being dropped once it goes into court. The license thing...not so much. Otherwise people would get nailed for having gardening tools, and legally transporting firearms all the time.

[vesiasmepay]

He really should had kept that locked in the boot of the car, his other mistake was not having a valid license, that's just asking for you to be caught.

[Ornamiviant]

He really should had kept that locked in the boot of the car, his other mistake was not having a valid license, that's just asking for you to be caught.

Could be a hatchback like mine, so it'd be out in the open anyway.

[janeseymore09092]

As a someone who grew up in NJ, "Home of the Brave, and the Land of the Free" does not apply in NJ when it comes to weapons.

[Keyclenef]

He really should had kept that locked in the boot of the car, his other mistake was not having a valid license, that's just asking for you to be caught.

Not having a valid license was his only mistake. Why should a sword have to be kept locked in the trunk during transportation? You think if the sword's loose, he'll be tempted to randomly hack at people? Having to lock weapons up simply for transport is just idiocy and there's no evidence for it being useful in preventing violent crimes.

@Anonymous: laws vary from state to state but like hl1978 says, NJ is one of the stricter places for owning weapons, so I'd actually be surprised if they drop the weapons charge unless he can show a perfectly innocent reason such as being on the way to iaido class or something.

[Heclailia]

Not having a valid license was his only mistake. Why should a sword have to be kept locked in the trunk during transportation? You think if the sword's loose, he'll be tempted to randomly hack at people? Having to lock weapons up simply for transport is just idiocy and there's no evidence for it being useful in preventing violent crimes.

You're response speaks volumes on what is wrong with that, but that's to be expected from a yank.

[chipkluchi]

Not having a valid license was his only mistake. Why should a sword have to be kept locked in the trunk during transportation? You think if the sword's loose, he'll be tempted to randomly hack at people? Having to lock weapons up simply for transport is just idiocy and there's no evidence for it being useful in preventing violent crimes.

One could argue that locking up weapons prevents others who have an intent of violence, from using the weapons. If the windows were rolled down, what's to prevent someone from snatching the sword from the seat and wreaking havoc?

[MrsGoo]

One could argue that locking up weapons prevents others who have an intent of violence, from using the weapons. If the windows were rolled down, what's to prevent someone from snatching the sword from the seat and wreaking havoc?

It's not only that, it is also to stop other people being distressed, scared, alerted to the fact you are carrying around a deadly weapon, the security of the weapon is something else as well that you brought up.

Do that sort of thing in any civil country like the UK, you soon have the ARV (Armed Response Units) being called.

[doxinwasido]

iirc NY & NJ have a highway traffic act similar to Ontario, where no weapon can be within reach of the driver - I can reach the rear floor of my cars pretty easily. If that's the case then it's a valid charge.

[CealialactBek]

One could argue that locking up weapons prevents others who have an intent of violence, from using the weapons. If the windows were rolled down, what's to prevent someone from snatching the sword from the seat and wreaking havoc?

Well that's a valid point. What is the likelihood that someone passing by can reach into my car and grab a weapon out of it before I can do something about it? I'd say it's not a reasonable fear but I see your point.

and @iron, I'm glad I'm in a civil state in a civil country where I can have my gun more accessible to me than it is to a potential criminal.

[budumol]

Well that's a valid point. What is the likelihood that someone passing by can reach into my car and grab a weapon out of it before I can do something about it? I'd say it's not a reasonable fear but I see your point.

and @iron, I'm glad I'm in a civil state in a civil country where I can have my gun more accessible to me than it is to a potential criminal.

The statistics for violent crime with handguns speaks otherwise.

In 2005, 75% of the 10,100 homicides committed using firearms in the United States were committed using handguns, compared to 4% with rifles, 5% with shotguns, and the rest with a type of firearm not specified.[37] Due to the lethal potential that a gun brings to a situation, the likelihood that a death will result is significantly increased when either the victim or the attacker has a firearm.[38] The mortality rate for gunshot wounds to the heart is 84%, compared to 30% for people who sustain stab wounds to the heart.[39] I know this is 5 years ago and quoted from wiki, but whatever the year, it's still bad to look at.

[alex_loudermilk]

Having to lock weapons up simply for transport is just idiocy and there's no evidence for it being useful in preventing violent crimes.

Really? Have there been studies on homicides committed from vehicles comparing secured versus unsecured weapons?

[TeemFilla]

Ah I wanted to say something, but 5 minute limit to edit? Ah!

I'm not against firearm ownership, I just believe the laws need to be very tough to a high standard. Firearms have been part of my life in one shape or form for a long time, but am realistic to what danger and social problems they cause.

Let me put a idea in your head, give everyone in the world a car, everyone with the training, will drive it, now give everyone a firearm and soon or later, they will use it for whatever reason, bad or good. Also, both can kill.

[UpperMan]

The statistics for violent crime with handguns speaks otherwise.



I know this is 5 years ago and quoted from wiki, but whatever the year, it's still bad to look at.

The wacky thing about violent crime stats is that once you go outside certain neighborhoods with certain socio-economic demographics within our major cities, the stats are quite different. I am sure this is true in most other places in the world as well.

The vast majority of neighborhoods in the USA are relatively gun crime free wether the juristicions have liberal gun laws or not.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

The wacky thing about violent crime stats is that once you go outside certain neighborhoods with certain socio-economic demographics within our major cities, the stats are quite different. I am sure this is true in most other places in the world as well.

The vast majority of neighborhoods in the USA are relatively gun crime free wether the juristicions have liberal gun laws or not.

Oh I agree, there are "bad" places like that in the UK too as well as any other country I suspect, but I have a higher chance of being stabbed then shot and I believe you have a higher chance of defending your person against someone who is trying to stab you then some bullet unless you can catch them with teeth. :P

You can't stop crime, but I believe you can limit the damage it causes.

[KixdricyArrip]

Oh I agree, there are "bad" places like that in the UK too as well as any other country I suspect, but I have a higher chance of being stabbed then shot and I believe you have a higher chance of defending your person against someone who is trying to stab you then some bullet unless you can catch them with teeth. :P

You can't stop crime, but I believe you can limit the damage it causes.

Well, take a look at the Philipines. It isn't that hard to get guns, but more people are still killed via stabbing anyway.

[SodeSceriobia]

One could argue that locking up weapons prevents others who have an intent of violence, from using the weapons. If the windows were rolled down, what's to prevent someone from snatching the sword from the seat and wreaking havoc?

Because the sword was not on the seat it "was lying across the rear floor of the vehicle, police said."

[gkihueonhjh]

Well, take a look at the Philipines. It isn't that hard to get guns, but more people are still killed via stabbing anyway.

From a friend of mine who lives there "even the little kids carry their machete to school and as a result they're all expert". It's also handy when you lose it and want to hurt someone. If you've got your bolo in your hand and your gun is at home, you're going to cut the guy rather than wait to go home and back again.

It's a bad argument to say that "cars/knives/screwdrivers/iedevices/... can kill too". Of course they can and of course they do, but prevention of easy access to a weapon works in a very simple manner, as proven years ago by studies in the USA on weapons vs damage (just don't ask me to find the damned paper, it was over 10 years ago).

Here's the mechanism. You are in a blind rage and you want to kill someone. You use the weapon you have at hand, be that a knife, a gun, a car, a bottle or a stick. If you have a gun the other person is likely to end up dead, if you have any of the other weapons, or no weapon at all, the other person is very much less likely to end up dead.

So the bottom line is that gun control prevents death much more efficiently than knife control prevents death but any mechanism that keeps lethal weapons, weapons that are specifically designed to kill, out of easy reach will reduce deaths.

Kim.