Senate Considers Ban on Lightsabers

Senate Rotunda, Coruscant — The Senate is presently considering a measure that would ban the manufacture, possession, and use of a lightsaber without a permit. The measure was proposed by Senator Sir Reuke Cambrist (Brentaal), a political foe of the Jedi Academy, and has been criticized as prejudicial. Cambrist denies the charge.

"[The lightsaber] is a cruel and uncivilized weapon," the Senator said on Atunda, as he proposed the measure, "In the wrong hands, it is clumsy and random. In the right hands—that is, one who is proficient in the so called 'art' of lightsaber butchery—it is even worse. Untold hundreds of people have been gruesomely dismembered with lightsabers in the last decade and, of them, almost all died of their wounds."

Added Cambrist, "It is truly a crude, savage, barbaric, ruthless, sadistic, primitive, wicked weapon of an ancient and bloody past."

"Are you mad?" asked Senator Lomen Ryuun (Druckenwell), "Did you propose this bill simply to create a rift between the Senate and the Jedi?" Ryuun has been the most vocal opponent of the measure, noting that "... the lightsaber has caused many dismemberments, but if you look closely, those wielded by Jedi only dismembered sentients who were attempting to assault said Jedi."

"Considering that one Jedi can grotesquely dismember one hundred stormtroopers in the span of one hour, exactly who is defending oneself under this scenario?" Cambrist replied, noting statistics that show over 90% of lightsaber wounds are fatal—statistics which are weighted for lightsaber incidents in war time, most of which were committed by Kyle Katarn, a Jedi Master and operative of New Republic Intelligence (NRI).

Cambrist also noted that stun blasters, stun batons, and energy shields could incapacitate foes in a humane fashion. Ryuun, again, disagreed. "Stun batons, stun blasters and energy shields would be inefficient at dispatching stormtroopers in one hour," he said. "As far as I am concerned, the lightsaber is a far more humane weapon than a blaster, as well as more efficient."

"Because something is efficient does not make it okay," Cambrist retorted. "Parking wherever I want—on rooftops, sidewalks, parks, etc.—is more efficient for me, but there are good reasons why the law forbids this."

Senator Artemis Vanden (Naboo) believed the measure would antagonist the Jedi Academy. "This is simply the latest in Senator Cambrist's long, sad line of measures designed to gratify his prejudice against the Jedi," he said, "This adds unnecessary tensions to our relationship with the Jedi Academy at a time that it is already suffering from strain, largely from the undeserved incendiary criticism of certain politicians." He also accused Cambrist of "persecuting" the Jedi.

Illanah Thanatos (Chandrila) and Eli Fitzgerald (Ralltiir) were also outspoken against the proposal. However, Luuneray Kruus (Neimoidia) and Jamulon Desilijic Tiure (Dantooine) supported the ban, and offered amendments to the measure including a database of registered lightsabers, and a safety assessment and mental evaluation requirement to obtain a permit.

Senate opinion is currently divided on the measure, with Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom arguing for a compromise. Nonetheless, the bill is expected to be defeated as Senators such as Jory Carson (Kuat) and Tremaine Fowlkes (Mowgle) are expected to oppose it, and have not yet voted. The Coruscant Journal will follow the debate as it continues.