Machetes cutting a wider swath of fear in U.S. communities

Scripps Howard News Service ^ | March 2, 2006 | By LISA HOFFMAN

[Spiff]

When it becomes harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms for their personal protection, criminals don't even need to go to the trouble of obtaining their own guns to terrorize citizens. A $10-$20 machete is sufficient when you're reasonably sure that no one you're threatening is carrying. You can thank the gun grabbers for this new development. If all guns were outlawed, then criminals would use machetes and knives. If sharp objects were outlawed then criminals would use rocks and clubs.

[kinghorse]

On Grand Caymen Gangs of machete wielding thugs separated people from their belongings after Hurricane Ivan. There is strict gun control on Grand Cayman.

[CarrotAndStick]

Exactly.

And the Gurkhas of the Indian/ British armies knows to use one well.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Yeah, but it's a pretty sad indictment of our society when one seriously has to consider packing when going to see a movie, or to a mall, or whatever.

You have a much better chance of winning Powerball than of being attacked by a machete-weilding gang-banger.

[Comstock1]

When they outlaw machetes only outlaws will....

This is too much. Instead of focusing on the very real problem posed by MS 13 and its young affiliates, they want to focus on --get ready for it--

A TOOL.

Don't blame me when they come for Black & Decker.

[Fee]

A machete is easier to make then a STEN Submachinegun. Will be hard to ban.

[MarMema]

story here

[ArrogantBustard]

When it becomes harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms for their personal protection,

Non-sequitur. Law-abiding citizens have little trouble obtaining firearms for their personal protection in Virginia ... even in the Peoples' Republic of Fairfax. Illegal aliens won't be able to get them from normal channels, though ...

[parsifal]

I wonder if Glock, or someone else, will develop a non-metallic machete that will elude metal detectors. Perhaps one made out of whatever B-2 bombers are made out of. Or fiberglass....Hey, 1-800-invention, listen to this....

parsy, who tries to think a step ahead.

[nuke rocketeer]

An armed citizen with a .357 or a 9mm can out-intimidate a machete carrying thug anyday.

This smells of a new push by the 'progressives' for new weapons laws in attempt to regulate and ban knives by the tried and true incremental method.

[Wonder Warthog]

Mr. Machete---meet Mr. 357 Mag

[Redcloak]

All in all, this is some pretty good writing. I don't agree with her, but I can appreciate her skill as a wordsmith. As I read this, I'm really drawn into the narrative; I can practically smell the urine as she wets herself in fear of the dreaded Noche de los Machetes.

[lesser_satan]

bump

[zarf]

But now, in a spreading trend that so far has drawn little national attention, criminals are using machetes as weapons, striking fear in cities and towns across the country.

Media hype. Media creates news.

I hate the media.

[two23]

"I have a machete in my garden tool shed. From my cold, dead hands........

LOL!!! beat me to the punch line! Haven't been without a machete in 30 years! We don't have a problem with machete's...we have a problem with thugs.

[Gefreiter]

Have a look at Cold Steel's "Nightshade" series of knife replicas. They're basically super sharp pieces of fiberglass:

http://www.coldsteel.com/nise.html

[bassmaner]

Ahhh, blame an inanimate object for crime, while excusing the criminal. The leftist gun-grabbers' and pseudo-conservative drug-warriors' favorite tactic.

A better solution would be to make mere membership in MS-13 a crime punishable under RICO laws. But that would be 'racist', wouldn't it, because their members are not white males ...

Political correctness is going to destroy this nation if we don't end it NOW.

[ArrogantBustard]

It ain't just Latinos ... a Guinea without a knife feels naked.

I hate flying ... can't carry my blade with me. At least I can put it in checked, and get dressed again at my detination.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yep, let the MS13 thugs keep wandering around freely; just take away their machetes. That'll fix the problem. < /s>