Manitoba bill eyes new rules for sale of machetes, swords and other items

The Manitoba authorities is looking to tighten the rules astir the merchantability of machetes, swords and different long-bladed weapons.

A measure present earlier the legislature would restrict the merchantability of specified weapons to radical implicit 18 with photograph identification.

It would besides necessitate retailers to support the weapons distant from unfastened nationalist entree — successful bid to trim theft — and to clasp records of income for astatine slightest 2 years.

The determination follows immoderate high-profile attacks involving machetes.

In August, 3 youths were charged successful a machete and axe onslaught that near an 80-year-old antheral earnestly injured.

In May, a 23-year-old antheral was charged with robbing different antheral wrong a gambling lounge portion equipped with a machete.

“We cognize these (weapons) are being utilized for transgression and convulsive crime,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Wednesday.

Fines for individuals who interruption the rules would beryllium arsenic overmuch arsenic $5,000 for a archetypal offence. A corp would look fines up to $25,000.

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The restrictions are akin to measures earlier imposed connected carnivore spray and which person proven successful, Wiebe said. There are morganatic uses for specified products, helium said, but choky rules astir retail income helps trim the hazard of the merchandise falling into the incorrect hands.

The justness curate besides said helium wants co-operation from out-of-province online retailers specified arsenic Amazon.

“This is truly incumbent connected the online retailers to recognize the regulatory situation that they’re selling into.”