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Polybius

(15,238 posts)
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:00 AM Dec 2018

New Yorkers Have a Constitutional Right to Nunchucks, Judge Rules

Source: NY Times

In the 1970s, the United States was in the middle of kung fu fever. A wave of martial arts movies washed onto American shores, making Bruce Lee an international superstar and “nunchucks” a household word.

Worried that young people inspired by the craze might use nunchucks to cause havoc, New York State lawmakers criminalized the weapon in 1974.

Not long after, a young man in suburban New Jersey began studying nunchucks, eventually developing a passion for them.

Four decades later, that formerly young man, James M. Maloney, now 60, was in court battling New York’s ban on the weapon — and winning.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/nyregion/nunchuks-ban-overturned-new-york.html



Interesting. Wonder if the NY ban on shurikens (throwing stars) will be overturned next...
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New Yorkers Have a Constitutional Right to Nunchucks, Judge Rules (Original Post) Polybius Dec 2018 OP
What Could Go Wrong? ProfessorGAC Dec 2018 #1
As a martial artist in the early 90's, everyone in my class just went to NJ and bought them Polybius Dec 2018 #3
Not sure that's true. cab67 Dec 2018 #7
I was just talking about purchasing them, not carrying them Polybius Dec 2018 #9
Purchase but not possess would not make sense. Purchase but not carry in public might. LakeSuperiorView Dec 2018 #10
the officer himself said he didn't understand the purchase but not possess bit. cab67 Dec 2018 #18
A similar situation existed (exists?) re switchblades / gravity knives. X_Digger Dec 2018 #21
You are also able to find illegal drugs for sale in every city. LakeSuperiorView Dec 2018 #22
But either the seller or buyer is in posession at any given time. sl8 Dec 2018 #23
Always thought it was weird that some places banned them. NT Adrahil Dec 2018 #2
They're great for Turbineguy Dec 2018 #4
That's kind of dumb they were ever banned. Zing Zing Zingbah Dec 2018 #5
From the Wiki article... TreasonousBastard Dec 2018 #6
Which is what would happen if I had tried to use them. Archae Dec 2018 #8
'making Bruce Lee an international superstar and "nunchucks" a household word.' PoliticAverse Dec 2018 #11
That's insane! robbob Dec 2018 #12
That's CGI. Codeine Dec 2018 #14
Dang.... reACTIONary Dec 2018 #24
Aww... robbob Dec 2018 #25
Thanks. I was just about to post no way that is real. Awesome none the less JDC Dec 2018 #29
I remember that video Polybius Dec 2018 #19
Nunchucks & cannabis! What a time to be a New York State resident! nt EarthFirst Dec 2018 #13
It's now legal to do this in New York Kaleva Dec 2018 #15
I actually know that guy. Codeine Dec 2018 #16
Everybody (in NY?) was Kung Fu Fighting!!! winstars Dec 2018 #17
I'll keep my bo staff, TYVM sakabatou Dec 2018 #20
.. CentralMass Dec 2018 #28
That's nice, but I only have the regular wood one sakabatou Dec 2018 #30
+1 CentralMass Dec 2018 #31
In MA i had "rubber chucks", for practice and a real wooden set. CentralMass Dec 2018 #26
We had rubber ones at our karate in the early 90's in NYC Polybius Dec 2018 #32
I'm cool with Bo staffs but, flying rabbit Dec 2018 #27

Polybius

(15,238 posts)
3. As a martial artist in the early 90's, everyone in my class just went to NJ and bought them
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:02 AM
Dec 2018

They have always been legal there.

cab67

(2,962 posts)
7. Not sure that's true.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:24 AM
Dec 2018

I attended high school in NJ. During driver's ed, a police officer gave us a presentation, mostly about drinking and driving. He said that it was legal to purchase nunchucks in NJ, but not to possess them. ("Keep them in your trunk so we don't see them during a pull-over" was the officer's advice. I've never had nunchucks, so it's never been a problem for me.)

This was in 1984. I don't know if the officer was accurate or not, but that's what he said.

Polybius

(15,238 posts)
9. I was just talking about purchasing them, not carrying them
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:41 AM
Dec 2018

I seen metal nunchucks in a NJ mall a few years ago.

 

LakeSuperiorView

(1,533 posts)
10. Purchase but not possess would not make sense. Purchase but not carry in public might.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:46 AM
Dec 2018

Purchasing is acquiring possession, so the distinction would be a moot point if it becomes a crime the second you complete the transaction.

What I wonder if this will require nun chuck swinging conversations akin to the man spreading conversations (it's really the exact same conversation...).

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
21. A similar situation existed (exists?) re switchblades / gravity knives.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 09:17 PM
Dec 2018

Illegal to possess, legal to purchase.

You'll see them for sale at knife shows in states where possession is illegal.

 

LakeSuperiorView

(1,533 posts)
22. You are also able to find illegal drugs for sale in every city.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 09:27 PM
Dec 2018

If the act of purchasing something leads to a criminal act as soon as the transaction is completed, there is is no logical distinction between the two.



The laws of most locations, being patchwork in continual process, are not required to agree with each other and make sense.

sl8

(13,584 posts)
23. But either the seller or buyer is in posession at any given time.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 10:23 PM
Dec 2018

It seems odd that law enforcement or even the show proprietors would tolerate the practice.

Zing Zing Zingbah

(6,496 posts)
5. That's kind of dumb they were ever banned.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:07 AM
Dec 2018

How many people have died from being attacked with nunchucks in US? Probably none. Yeah, they use them in katas at the karate dojo my family goes to over here in Maine.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
6. From the Wiki article...
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:19 AM
Dec 2018
Nunchaku is often the first weapon wielded by a student, to teach self-restraint and posture, as the weapon is liable to hit the wielder more than the opponent if not used properly.


robbob

(3,514 posts)
12. That's insane!
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 01:18 PM
Dec 2018

Imagine the precision needed to not only HIT the ball, but hit it on line at the target! Not to mention the spinning and high kicks! Remarkable!

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
16. I actually know that guy.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 02:26 PM
Dec 2018

He now has a thriving YouTube channel doing far less stupid content.

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)
26. In MA i had "rubber chucks", for practice and a real wooden set.
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:05 PM
Dec 2018

The rubber chucks were much less painful when you messed up.

I think that they were illegal in MA.

flying rabbit

(4,612 posts)
27. I'm cool with Bo staffs but,
Wed Dec 19, 2018, 11:06 PM
Dec 2018

I have all your equipment in my locker. You should probably come get it cause I can't fit my nunchucks in there anymore.

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