Manitoba is introducing legislation that will impose tighter restrictions on the sale of long-bladed instruments that can be used as weapons such as machetes, long-bladed knives, and swords.
Known as the Long-Bladed Weapon Control Act, Bill 39 seeks to regulate the retail sale of the blades to limit their use by “individuals with dangerous intentions,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced during an Oct. 9 press conference.
“Our government is committed to getting tough on crime and this new legislation would help keep our communities safer by restricting access to weapons such as machetes, knives and swords,” Wiebe said in a release.
The bill defines long-bladed weapons as having a metal blade of at least 30 centimetres in length.
If the legislation passes, retailers will be required to store the blades securely to ensure they are inaccessible to the public without the aid of store staff.
The bill will also prohibit the sale of such instruments to minors under the age of 18 and require purchasers to provide photo identification.
It will also be mandatory for retailers to keep a record of purchaser information and all transaction details for at least two years. The same rules will apply to online retailers shipping long-bladed instruments to Manitoba addresses.
Wiebe said he is hopeful the legislation will pass during the current legislative session. The bill is likely to pass since the governing NDP holds a majority government.
The minister noted the definition could be broadened through regulation to include specific features or characteristics in the future if needed.
The Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police has expressed support for the proposed bill, calling it an effective measure for preventing violence.
“Attacks with machetes and knives have dramatically risen in recent years, leading to life-altering injuries and fatalities,” Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police President Scot Halley said in the press release. “This legislation is a valuable tool for law enforcement to keep these weapons out of the hands of gangs and criminals.”
The government said it plans to consult with law enforcement, retail businesses, and indigenous leadership to develop the regulations in the coming months.
The bill would take effect on proclamation if passed through the legislature.
Machete Attacks
Introduction of the legislation comes amid a spate of machete attacks in Winnipeg in recent years.Two teenagers were charged in connection with an August machete attack that left a 15-year-old boy with life-altering injuries. The 15-year-old boy was “unknown to the suspects,” the Winnipeg Police Service said in an Aug. 23 press release.
The incident came days after a prior assault on an 80-year-old man.
A 14-year-old and 15-year-old boy were charged in both attacks and a 12-year-old girl is also facing charges for the attack that left the elderly man with “serious upper-body injuries,” police said.
The girl has been charged with assault with a weapon while both boys face aggravated assault charges, police said.
Another machete attack occurred in April when a 21-year-old male victim was struck multiple times with the weapon during a dispute, police said in a separate press release. The man sustained “serious injuries” during the attack.
Police arrested 19-year-old Winnipeg resident Phoenix Kalen Kawakami and charged him with aggravated assault.
The earliest machete-related incident on file with the Winnipeg Police Service was in 2020 when a man threatened to assault customers at a bar with a machete. The suspect swung the machete “in the direction of two separate patrons,” police said.
Charles Knott, 26, of Winnipeg was charged with assault with a weapon in connection with the incident.
