A New York senator alarmed by recent blade attacks in the city says the way to combat this form of violence is to ban machetes, and he’s introduced a bill to do just that.
“The fact that anyone can easily purchase this potentially lethal tool is just crazy,” said state Sen. Tony Avella, the New York Daily News reported.
State law already bans some smaller blades, like switchblades and gravity knives, which are listed as deadly weapons. But machetes are considered the same as butcher knives and therefore OK.
Mr. Avella proposes banning the sales of machetes and prohibiting their possession within city limits, with violators facing up to a year in jail.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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