It might be worth considering the nature of the weapon. The problem with firearms is that any fool, coward, weakling or nutcase using one can kill and injure a lot of people and needs to be met with a similar armament.

I can say, from experience which I will NOT describe in detail., that shooting someone dead is physically and emotionally easier than taking them down with a blade.

If it was me, I'd ban the public from owning firearms but would not have an issue with people carrying melee weapons. Knife crime is a problem in the UK, but only because the majority of people are not armed. Yonder knife-wielding youth might consider the old coot with the walking cane an easy mark at the moment. But give the possibility, or even likelihood, that said cane contained a sword, the odds change. Or even if the cane is not a cane, but a stout blackthorn cudgel, or even a good old-fashioned Penang Lawyer, there is room for caution introduced.

Besides, it woud be cool to see people walking around wearing swords, and fencing is good exercise.