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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Morning,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We’ve given the discussion about five days now including a weekend and there appear to be no knew arguments for or against. Based off of that, I’m going to try to succinctly articulate the Pros and Cons of this change. To revisit, the proposed change was:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.2in;text-indent:-.2in'><b><i>Ansteorra convention:</i></b><i> Except under the Youth Rapier Program, Light Rapier is to be eliminated within the borders of Ansteorra effective March 17<sup>th</sup>, 2013. After that date, Light Rapier blades can only be used with variances obtained in writing from the Kingdom Rapier Marshal at least 30 days in advance such as for historical SCA theme events. Ansteorra’s Rapier authorizations permit use of Light Rapier blades at out of Kingdom events where allowed.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some individuals have suggested it be reworded as such:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.2in;text-indent:-.2in'><b><i>Ansteorra convention:</i></b><i> Except under the Youth Rapier Program, Light Rapier is to be eliminated outside of training within the borders of Ansteorra effective March 17<sup>th</sup>, 2013. After that date, Light Rapier blades can only be used with variances obtained in writing from the Kingdom Rapier Marshal at least 30 days in advance such as for historical SCA theme events. Ansteorra’s Rapier authorizations permit use of Light Rapier blades at out of Kingdom events where allowed.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Cons:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>The blades are allowed by Society and have not been proven to be unsafe so we need to allow them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>It eliminates part of our origins within SCA Fencing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>It is exclusionary of those who prefer lighter weight blades.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>It eliminates an option for those who are physically unable to use heavier blades.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Pros:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>The blades are statistically non-existent comparing the possibly 10s of bouts to the 1000s of bouts per year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Heavy blades are more historically accurate than light blades.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>A significant majority of the SCA kingdoms as well as most inter-kingdom wars have gone to heavy blades only.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>The enforcement of the regulations around the lighter blades is lax at best creating a risk point.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Combatants being authorized without having shown to be safe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Marshals being authorized without knowing how to inspect the equipment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Light blades break more frequently than heavy blades elevating the risk due to lax enforcement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Please let me know right away if I misrepresented any of the above or missed a significant Pro or Con.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> There were several side discussions, but I think these were the ones that spoke directly to the proposal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In Service,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pug<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>