Uk

[Row]

I know we have all heard of the strict knife laws in the UK. Today I saw this article in the paper. It seems that most crimes are being committed with kitchen knives and the like. Interestingly enough some politicians seem to realize that to get to the root of crime they need to focus on the people and not what they are using. Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/world/europe/17knives.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

 

[Arkeld]

I know we have all heard of the strict knife laws in the UK. Today I saw this article in the paper. It seems that most crimes are being committed with kitchen knives and the like. Interestingly enough some politicians seem to realize that to get to the root of crime they need to focus on the people and not what they are using. Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/world/europe/17knives.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

Wishful thinking. Obviously, some Lib Dems are being the voice of reason in this mess, but you have to realize that they stand no chance whatsoever of being in power. Even though they achieved 22% of the votes in the last general election, they only have 9.6% of the seats in parliament.

In case you didn´t already know, the british electoral system is rotten.

The Conservative Party said the government’s plans did not go far enough and called for steeper penalties. The party’s leader, David Cameron, told reporters: “If you are carrying a knife and you are caught, you should expect to go to prison. Plain, simple, clear.”

That´s how it´ll go down. The UK was never that nice a place to begin with (certain cities and towns being exceptions), but it seems it´s only getting worse. I´m glad I made the correct choice 10 years ago and left the country.

 

[Gunfucius]

The plan includes automatic prosecution for anyone over the age of 16 caught with a knife and doubling the maximum sentence for knife possession, to four years.

So, nobody is allowed to even OWN a knife over there anymore? I highly doubt that. The U.K may be a pretty messed up, backwards society but I don't think its gotten to the point where simple possesion is outlawed... yet.

The prime minister also said the government would intervene directly with as many as 20,000 families whose children were considered at risk of turning to violence because “the mother or father have lost control of their children and their whole life is actually in difficulty.” Parents who refused to accept the government intervention, he said, would be threatened with eviction from their homes.

WTF?!!:barf::thumbdn:

The Daily Telegraph, which examined data from three-fourths of the police forces in England and Wales, reported recently that nearly 21,000 people had been stabbed or mugged at knifepoint so far this year.

Well, maybe if they hadn't banned guns...

A recent study by the Center for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University found that the number of people admitted to hospitals after arriving in the emergency rooms with injuries caused by violence had increased by 30 percent across England in the last four years.

Well gee, I wonder why. Shouldn't have banned those guns...

About 27,000 people were searched, 1,200 were arrested and 500 knives were seized, the authorities said.

Only 500 knives were seized, yet 1,200 people were arrested? Huh?

“By dragging more and more young people through the criminal justice system, they have reduced the fear of a criminal record and contributed to the problem,” he said.

DING DING DING!! We have a winner!!!:thumbup:

“We need to look at the violence itself instead of focusing on the instrument, because clearly knives are very available,” he said.

DING DING DING!! Another winner!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Anjow]

Only 500 knives were seized, yet 1,200 people were arrested? Huh?

They were sharing knives, obviously.

A lot of this tripe is purely done for a media spectacle. There are a precious couple of knife rights enshrined in statute and every single damn thing the media shouts about, knife-wise, ignores this. The layperson does not know that it is legal to carry a <3" non-locking folder and voids their bowels when they find out that a responsible person does just that.

For very, very interesting (but bloody complex) reading, check out this:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61242 ... which is a discussion of this: http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294322

Summary: the Bill of Rights 1689 seems to allow us to carry weapons for self defence and a recent precedent reiterated that it still stands. The Criminal Justice Act 1988 says one can't carry a weapon without lawful authority but the Bill of Rights gives one that authority and it can only be expressly repealed - which it hasn't. Obviously this isn't a cut & dried issue, it hasn't been investigated thoroughly and there hasn't been a test case.

 

[shorta18]

i'm 19, live in the uk, i collect knives, and i carry one as a habit. it's bloody useful, i need to use it for work, because the management will only supply a craft knife blade, not a handle to be seen, and as the bodywork on my motorcycle is fastened with zip ties, i need to cut them off to access my toolkit should i have a problem. i live an hours walk from the nearest town, right out in the sticks, and yet, from the moment i step out of my front door with a knife in my pocket, i risk being sent to jail. and they wonder why the youth of the nation is so bloody pissed off!

 

[Anjow]

With regard to my previous post, if you look at the BritishBlades thread you will see that the Bill of Rights defence is faulty. Not directed at anyone, but I thought it best to make it clear that such a defence doesn't work.