Why Weapons Bans Will Never Work, By Richard Miller (Londonistan)

Weapons bans, such as the United Kingdom's recent prohibition of so-called "ninja swords," are often pushed down the public's throats as a means to curb violence and enhance public safety. However, these measures usually fail to achieve their intended goals due to fundamental misunderstandings of human behavior, practical enforcement challenges, and the street cunning of those intent on causing harm. This blog piece explores why weapons bans, exemplified by the UK's ninja sword ban, are ineffective, drawing on evidence from black market dynamics, cultural resistance, criminal adaptability, and the broader implications for law-abiding citizens. It draws heavily on a great YouTube piece by swordsman Shad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Oc8vW-hPt4

The UK government announced on March 27, 2025, that "ninja swords" would be banned starting August 1, 2025, as part of its Crime and Policing Bill. The ban, spurred by the 2022 murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda with such a weapon, makes it illegal to possess, manufacture, import, or sell these blades, defined as having a 14- to 24-inch blade with a straight cutting edge and a tanto-style point, even though most of these swords are 28 inches in length! Penalties include up to six months in prison for possession in private, increasing to two years, and up to four years for carrying any weapon in public. A surrender scheme from July 1 to 31, 2025, aims to collect these weapons, with compensation offered for those purchased before the announcement. The government frames this as a step to "break the cycle of young people carrying knives" and address knife crime, which saw 50,500 offenses involving sharp instruments in England and Wales in 2024, down from a 2019 peak of 52,000 but up from 33,800 in 2010.

This ban, however, exemplifies the flawed logic of weapons prohibition. As critic Shad points out in his YouTube analysis, ninja swords, often decorative, stainless steel wall-hangings, are less dangerous than common tools like sticks, spades, or screwdrivers, which can be wielded with lethal effect. He argues that these swords, prone to breaking under heavy use, are unlikely to be the weapon of choice for serious criminals. This highlights a disconnect: lawmakers target specific objects based on isolated incidents, ignoring the broader reality that almost any item, from rocks to kitchen knives, can be weaponised.

Weapons bans do not eliminate demand; they redirect it to black markets. The UK's ninja sword ban, like previous restrictions on "zombie knives" and machetes, assumes that restricting legal access will reduce availability. Yet, historical precedents, such as alcohol prohibition in the 1920s United States, show that bans fuel illicit trade. A 2017 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report noted that many firearms used in U.S. crimes were acquired through illegal channels, such as straw purchases or trafficking. Similarly, knives and swords can be smuggled across borders or sourced domestically through underground networks.

Technology further undermines bans. The rise of 3D printing enables individuals to produce untraceable weapons, including knives and firearm components, at home. In the U.S., "ghost guns" have become a growing concern, with a 2021 ATF report documenting their increasing use in crimes. In the UK, where knife crime persists despite stringent laws, criminals can access or create alternatives to banned weapons, rendering specific prohibitions like the ninja sword ban largely symbolic.

Enforcing weapons bans is a logistical nightmare. The UK's surrender scheme relies on voluntary compliance, but as seen with Australia's 1996 gun buyback, not all owners participate, and illegal weapons remain in circulation. The UK's estimated millions of knives, including legally owned kitchen blades, make comprehensive enforcement impractical. A 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on U.S. border security highlighted the difficulty of intercepting smuggled firearms due to limited resources and outdated technology, a challenge equally applicable to knives crossing UK borders.

The ninja sword ban's focus on a niche weapon ignores the broader issue: knife crime often involves readily available tools. X posts reflect public scepticism, with one user noting that while "kids are being stabbed with kitchen knives in London," the government targets "decorative ninja swords" that pose little practical threat. This misallocation of resources diverts attention from more pressing issues, such as gang activity or socioeconomic drivers of violence.

Cultural attitudes complicate weapons bans. In the UK, where self-defence laws are restrictive, banning ninja swords is seen by some as further eroding personal autonomy. Critics argue that the government prioritises symbolic gestures over addressing root causes, a sentiment echoed in a National Review article that called the ban a "symbolic bandage" on deeper societal issues. In the U.S., cultural resistance is even stronger, with a 2023 Pew Research Center survey finding 60% of Americans view gun ownership as enhancing personal safety. Attempts to impose bans often trigger backlash, as seen during the 1994 U.S. Assault Weapons Ban, which fuelled gun sales and political opposition.

The UK's focus on ninja swords also reflects a misunderstanding of human nature. As Shad notes in the video, any object can be weaponised, and targeting specific items ignores the intent behind violence. A 2020 UN Office on Drugs and Crime report on Japan, where strict gun laws prevail, documented the use of blades and homemade weapons by organised crime, illustrating that bans do not deter determined actors. The UK's own data shows that "sharp instruments" include not just knives but broken bottles, underscoring the futility of object-specific bans.

Criminals, unbound by laws, adapt to restrictions by finding alternatives. The 2017 London Bridge attack, where assailants used a van and knives to kill eight people, demonstrates that bans on specific weapons do not prevent violence. In the UK, nearly two dozen knife types, including switchblades and butterfly knives, are already banned, yet knife crime persists. Criminals use kitchen knives, screwdrivers, or even improvised weapons, as seen in various European attacks. The ninja sword ban, targeting a weapon linked to a single high-profile case, is unlikely to deter those already breaking laws against murder or assault.

Weapons bans disproportionately burden law-abiding citizens. In the UK, collectors or martial arts practitioners who own ninja swords for legitimate purposes now face criminal penalties or the hassle of surrender schemes. This mirrors broader trends: in rural areas, where police response times are long, bans on firearms or knives can leave residents vulnerable. A 2018 National Shooting Sports Foundation study found that 70% of rural U.S. gun owners cited self-defence as a primary reason for ownership, a concern equally relevant to UK residents in isolated areas.

Moreover, bans erode trust in institutions. The UK's ninja sword ban, mocked online as targeting "wall-hanging decorations," risks alienating citizens who see it as government overreach. A Blaze Media report noted widespread ridicule of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with critics arguing that the ban distracts from addressing actual crime. Such policies can fuel cynicism, reducing compliance with future laws.

The UK's ninja sword ban, like other weapons bans, fails to address violence's root causes: poverty, mental health issues, and gang culture. Programs like community-based violence interruption, successful in cities like Oakland, California, focus on mediation and economic opportunities, reducing the demand for weapons more effectively than bans. Targeted enforcement, such as disrupting illegal trafficking or enhancing online sales monitoring, could also curb access to dangerous weapons without punishing law-abiding citizens.

Technology offers potential solutions. Smart weapons that restrict use to authorised individuals could balance safety and rights, though such innovations are still developing. Meanwhile, the UK's surrender scheme, offering £10 per knife in a prior ban, was criticised as inadequate, suggesting that even practical measures are underfunded or poorly executed.

Weapons bans, exemplified by the UK's ninja sword prohibition, are doomed to fail because they misunderstand human nature, ignore practical realities, and prioritise symbolism over substance. Black markets thrive, criminals adapt, and law-abiding citizens bear the brunt, while cultural resistance and enforcement challenges further undermine success. Rather than banning objects, from ninja swords to rocks, policymakers should address violence's root causes and pursue targeted, evidence-based strategies. Only through pragmatic, multifaceted approaches can society hope to reduce harm without sacrificing freedom. Just tell that to the government!

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ninja-swords-banned-by-summer-as-manifesto-commitment-delivered

"In a further move to break the cycle of young people carrying knives and to better protect the public from knife-related crime, from 1 August, ninja swords will be banned. This will make it illegal to possess, manufacture, import or sell these deadly weapons.

The majority of ninja swords have a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches with one straight cutting edge with a tanto style point. From 1 August, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face 6 months in prison, and this will later increase to 2 years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill. There is already a penalty of up to 4 years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.

Ahead of the ban coming into place, the government, in partnership with law enforcement and members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, will run its most ambitious surrender scheme yet. The scheme will run across the country, targeting young people most vulnerable to knife crime.

The surrender scheme will run from 1 to 31 July to allow any member of the public to hand in these weapons safely."