Australian state plans to ban the sale of machetes following violent gang fight

An Australian authorities authorities volition prohibition the merchantability of machetes aft a convulsive pack combat successful a suburban buying mall

MELBOURNE, Australia -- An Australian authorities authorities is banning the merchantability of machetes aft a convulsive pack combat successful a suburban buying promenade injured a young man.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced Monday the prohibition connected the merchantability of ample knives would instrumentality effect Wednesday aft machete-wielding pack members clashed astatine a Melbourne promenade connected Sunday afternoon.

A 20-year-old antheral was earnestly injured successful the combat that progressive 8 combatants equipped with machetes, a constabulary connection said. Four suspects had been arrested and charged by Monday.

“I volition present arsenic galore laws (as needed) to get these unsafe knives disconnected the streets,” Allan told reporters.

“We volition beryllium bringing successful spot a prohibition connected the merchantability of machetes present successful Victoria and this prohibition volition beryllium successful spot from midday connected Wednesday. Under user powers, utilizing these powers, Victoria volition beryllium banning machetes from being sold anyplace successful the state,” she added.

Victoria is the lone Australian authorities oregon territory that plans to prohibition machetes, broadly defined arsenic a cutting borderline weapon with a leaf exceeding 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) long. Kitchen knives are not included successful the ban.

Possession of a machete volition beryllium banned with fewer exceptions successful Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state, from Sept. 1.

The prohibition connected the merchantability of machetes was to person taken effect connected that date. A three-month amnesty volition springiness radical clip to dispose of their machetes astatine constabulary stations and unafraid bins without penalty.

Possession of a machete successful Victoria would beryllium punishable by up to 2 years successful situation and a good of much than 47,000 Australian dollars ($30,700).

England and Wales banned possession of machetes and immoderate different knives successful September past year.

Australia has immoderate of the toughest gun laws successful the world, and weapon crimes are comparatively rare. But weapon crimes are becoming much common.

New South Wales, Australia’s astir populous state, and Queensland and South Australia states prohibition the merchantability of knives to children.

Machetes are presently controlled weapons that are allowed to beryllium carried for morganatic purposes.

Around 40 constabulary officers responded to the combat betwixt rival gangs successful Melbourne.

The 2 alleged superior offenders, boys aged 15 and 16, were arrested astatine the country and charged with utilizing a controlled limb and different offenses.

The boys were held successful custody to look successful a children’s tribunal astatine a aboriginal date.

Two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested Monday and charged successful narration to the violence. They were released connected bail for a tribunal quality successful July.

All 4 were known pack members, constabulary said.

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