Who knows what is next?

 This does not affect you, but I thought you might be interested in what I am following.

 

 

There are so many things that are not discussed. When I began studying Isshinryu it was very different from many martial programs to day. I am not talking about the paradigm in which I was trained. I am referring to the world in which martial instruction takes place..

 

For one thing on the whole I never heard of martial arts insurance programs in the 1970s or the early 1980s.

 

But then (and I suspece not universally) those program came into existence. State by state began to classify martial arts instructon under the personal gym programs, requiring insurance to protect the customer that the program would remain in existence for their contract.  I became aware that landlords would not rent space to programs that didn’t have insurance nor would many facilities rent out gyms for tournaments without martial arts insurance. And with that insurance there were regulations that if not followed one would lose the insurance, nd then cascading problems.

 

With those insurances programs had to cease some of their earlier practices. The effect of regulation.

 

There were other effects as some school owners when hearing of new programs in their area would contact the state involved to inform them of that program. Which meant the State would contact that school informing them of the insurance requirements to operate. A method to slow down competition for students.

 

I am sure not everywhere, but that did occur. And of course it meant the program instructor was being controlled.

 

Depending on your point of view perhaps that was good. Perhaps it was not. But what no one talks about, one has no chance to influence change.

 

Now we have proposd Virginia Martial Arts Legislation

 

1. That § 18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-433.2. Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty.

A person shall be, amended to is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he:

1. Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or  technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or

2. Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or

3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.

2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 854 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

 

 

This is of course only proposed legislation, something every member of that legistative body has the right to do. It it is adopted into Virginia Law, one really does not know what shape that law would be. As stated it is open to a range of interpretations as to what is actually involved. But the fact it might affect martial school owners certainly become a possibility.

 

Without a final form of an adopted bill, it does not behoove discussion, which tends to support your personal belief system.

 

I think it would most give concern what implications might follow.

 

As for the firearm provisions that is likely something the Supreme Court will have to address.

 

However I wonder about another level of intent. It is possible that this might be bound to all martial arts instruction in Virginia. And then when adopted the State could further regulate all martial arts instruction it its boundries. So good girls and boys owing schools would sign up for the regulation through some agency. And those that are not good girls and boys would not register. Such regulation boards could dictate permissible course content and ban other content.

 

What one state does, other states often follow in the same way.

 

As we are just talking out loud, such consideration might be something to think about.

 

We are living in stranger and stranger times. Who can say what is possible.

 

I remember back in the early 1980s NJ was considering martial school regulation tied to a State Board which was attatched to a TKD group. The fear was such legislation would let that borad be in charge. In Pa there were even discussion meetings at tournaments about the issue. It did not come to pass …. That time.

 

In a very real sense there is a level of control already, through the Insurance industry (in many places).