In our generation people collect some crazy things from coins, to spoons, to vintage clothing. But then you have the very bold people that collect swords from all time periods and all different kinds of swords like samurai, snake eyes tactical, and katana samurai swords. Lately in the city that we live in some crazy things involving swords/ knives have been happening and of course that raised a lot of questions throughout the general public. Not many people think of collecting swords because it is a very strange and very odd thing to own.

The laws states have in place for owning a sword or any kind of weapon vary from state to state. Currently in Nebraska the only law in order to own a sword is a conceal and carry permit you do not have to be a certain age to buy one. There are several places you can purchase swords such as shops you find around your town they are most likely going to be hole in the wall shops, or you could buy them from current collectors, or even online. Ebay has millions of options of swords and lots of prices. They also have reenactment websites where you can buy a sword from that particular time period to use for that reenactment. They are relatively easy acquire.

In Lincoln, NE, there have recently been two reports of incidents involving swords.  A young women got in a heated argument with her boyfriend, picked up a 3 foot sword, and swung it at him.  These actions resulted with him being cut. When she got arrested, her mugshot showed that she clearly felt no remorse for what she did to her boyfriend. It could have been more fatal, but thankfully the young man brought his hand up to protect himself.  The only injury he sustained was a cut across the hand. It was not severe enough to receive medical treatment. This young lady was having a fight with her boyfriend about a past relationship at her house. She was yelling at him to leave her apartment while he was packing up his things to leave she grabbed the sword and swung it at him and sliced open his thumb. After she had called 911 around 3am. the cops arrived to find the man with blood on his shirt and a cut hand. They later discovered that the woman who had cut her boyfriend was intoxicated.

Not even a week later in Shopko right around the corner from our high school. A man was running around Shopko swinging  20 inch. Machete blade. The police were called and our SRO at Lincoln East High was the first one to respond to this call. When Officer Stumbo showed up to Shopko the workers told him he was in the bathroom. So Stumbo walked into the bathroom and asked the man what he was doing he responded with “ I’m just going to the  bathroom” Stumbo then asked “Do you have a knife in there with you”? He responded with “ Yes “ Stumbo then asked “ Could you slide it out please”. The man then slid this big machete knife under the stall door. He was then asked if he had anything else in the stall with him. He had a shopping cart and the machete but nothing else was in his possession. This story could have gone very different it could have been dangerous  for Officer Stumbo to go into. But in this case the man was very cooperative.

So what is the big deal about swords why is it an item some households just acquire. What about the sword is appealing to the collectors? Should there be laws in place in order to buy/ own a sword. If there were to be laws what would they be on? Age? Permits? Mental health history?  Length of the blade? Should laws about swords be the same as the ones we have in place for knives? How easy is it to acquire a sword at my young age?