Arizona governor signs bill lifting ban on nunchucks

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) on Friday signed a bill removing nunchucks from the list of deadly weapons, lifting the ban on the commonly used tool in martial arts, AZfamily.com reported.

Supporters of the measure argued that martial artists should not be worried about facing charges for being in possession of nunchucks, made from two sticks connected by rope or chain.

“It’s good to know that nobody’s going to get arrested for carrying their nunchucks to their training,” said Phoenix karate instructor Shawn Sample.  

Hey guys…nunchucks are now legal in Arizona.

Yes, nunchucks.

Enough said. #azfamily pic.twitter.com/V7WtSkmq74

— Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) May 11, 2019

Nunchucks were previously classified as deadly weapons along with bombs, gun silencers and automatic firearms, the Associated Press reported. It was illegal to make, possess, transport or sell them in most circumstances otherwise face felony charges.

{mosads}Sample said nunchucks would not realistically be used for self-defense and, therefore, should not be classified as a deadly weapon. 

“If you pull yesterday’s weapons out on today’s people, they could pull a gun out and shoot you,” Sample said.

Arizona Rep. John Kavanaugh (R) told AP that the average person could do “far more damage using a baseball bat than nunchucks.”

“They’re not dangerous to anybody. And we really should let kids and adults who want to do martial arts activities legally possess them,” Kavanaugh said.

Critics argued that lawmakers should but their energy toward combating gun violence.

“Instead of figuring out ways that we can save lives, we’re wasting time on nunchucks,” said Rep. Athena Salman (D) told AP.