always wanted to ask: whats the deal with spydercos?

[Grover_Cephas]

Sorry for the off topic rant but uninformed sheeple are one of my pet peeves.

The dude's been here for over a year... I'm not sure it's fair to call him "uninformed sheeple". He's got a different opinion (I disagree with him, too; I don't hold with the "there're dangerous people out there, so protect me and mine by disarming everybody" rationale), but we can at least disagree politely.

 

[Blackhearted]

i disagree with banning things such as SAKs as well. within a few minutes you can fashion a much more lethal weapon from many things around the school - like the combination lock in a sock that BMnut mentioned - i would take one of those over an SAK in a fight anyday.

i understand not allowing obvious weapons such as guns (duh) and large hunting/tactical style knives, but something like an SAK is not a weapon but a tool, an accessory. you cant just keep taking things away from people in the guise of 'making the world safer' - it is impossible to create a world that is completely free of dangerous objects. the question is, when is it time to stop and leave it to the judgement and responsibility of the individual?
whats next? many people die in car accidents, and cars are often used in violent and irresponsible acts. so perhaps they should be taken away from people as well?

by 'banning' things like SAKs and pocket knives from school they accomplished nothing. the bad kids still came to school with switchblades and butterfly knives, they didnt care about the regulations. but it changed the attitudes of people to regard something as innocent and utilitarian as an SAK as an evil implement of violence. now those same people are the ones who shriek 'KNIFE!!! OMG KNIIIFFEEE!!! WEAPON!!!' when you pull out an SAK to peel an orange at work.

most murders involving knives are committed at home, with kitchen knives. are we going to ban them next? theyre already doing it in britain. its f*cking idiotic. do they really think if someone wants to kill their spouse, and they dont have pointy kitchen knives, theyre just going to change their mind and live happily ever after with them? no. theyll pick up a meat tenderizer, a cleaver, a paring knife, a barbeque fork, a pan, a rolling pin, wtf-ever else is at hand. itll only end up getting messier - given a choice id rather be stabbed to death with a sharp kitchen knife than hacked slowly to death with a butter knife, thank you very much.
you cannot 'ban' an intent, and it is intent that kills, and not a knife.

 

[kaosu04]

You cant ban an intent? I disagree. You obviously dont watch enough Star Trek But you're absolutely right. Things like this are represented by gun laws in various countries. Switzerland and Israel have very low murder rates, but very relaxed gun laws. (switzerland issues assault rifles to all who serve in the military, and they keep them after by my understanding). First off, I dont think a criminal will be deterred from commiting a crime if he has to use an illegal weapon to do it. Also, I agree that really only intent is required to commit the crime. A broken glass bottle is surely more dangerous than a 2 inch SAK. It's just a case of people being afraid of what they dont understand.