I'm going to argue against new laws and bans here so if you're triggered by that, don't read ahead. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and since I actually know alot about this topic, I thought it would be good to explain the other side to this topic.
First of all, most crossbows can not 'rapidly' fire bolts. Head to youtube and see for yourself. There are a very minor few that can fire multiple shots quickly, but with much much less force than a single shot one.
Secondly, crossbow kills are so rare it could be compared to being killed by a lightning strike. And 'military style' knives are no more or less deadly than kitchen knives. Stab wounds are leathal no matter how they are dealt.
Do you know how many people are killed by kitchen knives each year? Or what proportion of knife crime involves a kitchen knife? Where is the public outcry to ban or toughen up laws on them? A very large percebtage of deaths from stabbings are from kitchen knives, and yet, they'll never be banned. If a psychopath wants to kill someone, if the can't use a crossbow for example, they'll turn to something else. Can't get a 'military style' knife? They'll use a 10" chefs knife.
All that happens when blanket bans and draconian laws are enacted to against stuff like, in the case of our history here in the UK with handguns, multishot rifles, shotguns with larger magazine sizes and so on, all that happens is the vast, vast majority of the owners and users of these items get screwed over, law abiding citizens get screwed over. And businesses and clubs that deal with these items. We used to have alot more shooting clubs in the UK till the handgun ban wiped all that out. Has it stopped gun crime? Nope. In some areas it's gone UP despite some of the toughest laws anywhere in the world.
You ban crossbows, they'll pick up a bow, you ban bows and close all the archery clubs and retailers across the country are forced out of business, professional archers forced to gice up their sport etc. Will it stop killings? With string weapons, sure, possibly, but if someone is dead set (excuse the pun) on killing someone, they will find a way and use something else.
We have some of thw toughest knife laws of anywhere in the world, does it stop knife crime? No, reduce it? Somewhat.
Criminals and murderers, strangely enough, do not care about the laws. It's always law abiding citizens that get unduly screwed over by these bans and tougher laws.
Meanwhile the criminals must have not hears about the laws, or just don't care, which would you bet on?
The problem is the mindset of these people. Gangs carry weapons because of other gangs. More education needs to happen at a younger age about how dangerous knives are, how much trouble you can get in breaking the laws and so on.
A 'military style' knife is no more or less deadly than an equivalent size and sharpness kitchen knife. And there are thousands upon thousands of respectable, law abiding citizens that collect, make and run stores selling knives.
Don't screw over the vast majority of responsible owners of knives, crossbows and so on by some new oppressive laws put into place after a knee-jerk reaction to a once in decades crime. And like I have tried to make clear, all knives are dangerous. And kitchen knives, which represent the largest percentage of knife killings, will never be banned.
And if they were? Someone would stab someone else with a screwdriver or sharp stick.
Plenty of things are banned but still get used in killings, by criminals who by their nature DO NOT CARE about our laws.
As someone else has already said here, there are plenty of legal and good intentioned reasons for having a crossbow or 'military style' knife. Do some digging online and see for yourself that there are 10's, if not 100's of thousands of hobbyists, collectors, sportsmen, and so on that legally own and use / collect these kind of things.
This country is already oppressive and draconian enough with its laws and bans on things without the need for more of the same. Less freedom will not make us any safer.
And if I didn't know any better I would say it's suspicious that in the last few years events & killings with/involving crossbows has spiked out of nowhere, which doesn't take a conspiracy theorist to see where it will lead to in terms of new bans etc.
Just for information, I collect knives, of all sorts, mostly famous / historical versions, 'first of' new types of designs and locking mechanisms etc. And many that just look nice on display. I also use a number of them for perfectly legitimate reasons, and follow the laws to the letter. I also advocate for safe use of them and advise others on them and laws to be aware of.
What do I use them for I hear you ask? Everything and anything. Opening bags, boxes, straps, cutting tape, rope, card, paper, opening letters, fixing things, trimming things, crafting, gardening, bushcrafting & camping, making tinder, kindling, splitting logs and many more uses besides that.
And no, carrying a pair of scissors around to open or cut stuff when needed isn't at all practical, and when it comes to opening boxes can be more dangerous (holding them open with a blade in your hand is a stupid way to open a box tbh)
If anyone made it through all that and has any questions I'll happily answer them provided they're polite.