Online retail giant Amazon will no longer ship machetes or other long-bladed weapons to its Manitoba customers, the company says.
The measure was put in place three months after the Manitoba government established new guidelines prohibiting the sale of such instruments to minors under the age of 18.
The Long-Bladed Weapon Control Act, which took effect in December, stipulates that retailers in Manitoba can only sell long-bladed instruments to adult customers who provide photo identification.
It is also mandatory for retailers to ensure instruments are inaccessible to the general public and to maintain sales records for a period of two years.
An Amazon spokesperson said the company is taking additional measures beyond the province’s legal requirements by prohibiting the shipment of long-bladed weapons to any address in Manitoba, regardless of the buyer’s age.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said he was pleased with Amazon’s decision and noted that he had reached out to several online retailers, urging them to adhere to the spirit of the legislation.
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“They understand the impact that these weapons can have in our community,” Wiebe said during a March 11 press briefing. “They know the violent crimes that are being committed with them, and to their credit … they’ve indicated that they are willing to restrict the sale of these weapons here in the province of Manitoba.”
Wiebe said he is hopeful other online retailers will adopt a similar approach.
There has been a notable increase in the use of machetes during assaults and robberies in Manitoba, a trend that prompted the provincial legislation.
A man was injured in a machete attack as recently as last week.
Winnipeg Police responded to a convenience store March 7 after a 36-year-old man sustained “serious upper-body” injuries during a machete attack near the store. Officers were forced to use tourniquets on the victim to stop the bleeding, police said in a press release. The stabbing victim was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident.
It’s not the first time a teenager has been arrested after such an attack. Two teenagers were charged in connection with a machete attack last August that left a 15-year-old boy with life-altering injuries.
That same month, an 80-year-old man received “serious upper-body injuries” in another machete attack. Two teenage boys and one 12-year-old girl were charged.
Machetes are not the only weapons covered by Manitoba’s new law. The Long-Bladed Weapon Control Act, also known as Bill 39, defines long-bladed weapons as having a metal blade of at least 30 centimetres in length.
Wiebe said the definition could be broadened through regulation to include specific features or characteristics in the future if needed. The law does not apply to items like hedge trimmers, pruning shears, or any type of saw.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
