Made of English ash, bows were a greatly valued lethal weapon in medieval times. However, from as early as the thirteenth century their use was regulated by the state – the 1252 ‘Assize of Arms’ compelled all men from 15 to 60 to equip themselves with a bow and arrows. King Edward III took this further in the Archery Law of 1363, which commanded men to practice archery on Sundays and holidays, and “forbade, on pain of death, all sport that took up time better spent on war training especially archery practise”.
Important in the military and sporting history of our country, archery has been restricted in public places for ages, for safety has long been deemed more important than the right to own and use such dangerous weapons.
Just last month, the wife and two adult daughters of BBC horse racing correspondent John Hunt were killed in their home by a man armed with a crossbow. Though the murderer was caught, after attempting to take his own life with the bow, the devastating threat posed by these, currently freely-available, weapons of war could not be clearer and must be taken more seriously before further lives are lost.
Practically silent but for the release of their bowstring, modern crossbows can as a rule shoot accurately for 80 yards, with their arrows capable of hitting targets up to 500 yards away. Given this accuracy, in past times even Popes tried to ban the use of crossbows; in the 12th century, the aptly-named Pope Innocent II issued a decree to outlaw their use.
Presently, anyone who carries a crossbow in public “without reasonable excuse” faces up to four years in gaol. However, crossbows can be bought online for £280 or less, allowing would-be criminals to purchase a silent, long-range weapon.
Here in the United Kingdom, Governments have previously introduced necessary legal restrictions on the ownership of dangerous arms following tragic events. After the Dunblane massacre of 1996, the Government swiftly passed two new laws which outlawed the private ownership of most handguns, with a temporary buyback programme to compensate owners for their loss. With this in mind, I pressed successive Governments to restrict the sale and ownership of crossbows. My calls have been heeded, with a consultation about strengthening controls on these silent killers receiving 2,991 responses. I eagerly anticipate full publication of this evidence with the swift introduction of meaningful measures to follow.
From 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they are added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers. These are welcome steps after the spate of recent bladed killings across our cities. But knowing that much more still needs to be done, I will continue to press for an effective ban on crossbows – for they are as deadly as guns and silent as knives.
