“Machetes are used by British street and organised gangs and have been for years.”
Just to clarify..... These are native white Englishman? If so must be due to lack of guns.
Until the 1990’s, the British gangster wasn’t as armed as his US counterpart.
That was partly to do with punishment if caught, partly to do with the lack of need to be armed, as most disputes could be settled. Guns were used, but only when people needed killing. Not to with lack of guns, the UK gangsters always had plenty, they just didnt need to carry and use them all the time. The main weapon of choice, as it remains in the UK overall, was/is the knife. Or the sword. Street gangs don’t always have easy access to guns. Although that depends where you live.
Organised crime has gravitated to guns. Due to the rise in drugs and the rise in black British crime, who ape the black US gangsters, the 90s saw guns become more prevalent in British crime. The old fashioned restraint where guns were concerned has died out.
Street gangs use them to kill. Organised gangs more to maim, and ‘send a message’.
Erm, I have just slagged you off on another thread, but not as violently, lol. Again, don’t take it too personally, its more frustration in general.