Gee, for some reason, these knife crimes are not so common in Florida, Texas etc.
Posted on 07/04/2008 12:24:01 PM PDT by Republicain
Violent crime has doubled since Labour came to power a decade ago. Stabbings and assault in Britain are now common, if not daily occurrences; at night city centers are generally regarded as no-go areas; “feral” youths and gangs loitering the streets – often drunk on cheap alcohol – make many people too afraid to go for a walk on a summer evening.
Every week yields up plenty of reasons why people have good reason to be scared in modern Britain. On Saturday evening 60-year old Stan Dixon, a former soldier, was attacked by youths, for asking them not to swear in front of a woman. He died yesterday in hospital. 17 teenagers have been murdered in London alone this year. The latest victim, 16 year-old Ben Kinsella, was killed on Sunday night. On Tuesday Dee Willis, a 28 year-old woman, was stabbed to death by a female attacker in south-east London. Today, the country woke up to reports of the extremely brutal and apparently motiveless murder of two French exchange students, Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez (both 23). The two men had been playing computer games at Mr. Bonomo’s apartment in New Cross, south-east London, on Sunday night, when they were attacked, gagged, tortured (suffering nearly 250 stab wounds between them), and their bodies set on fire.
The police are no longer beloved by the public, it is sad to say. Political correctness and bureaucratic paperwork has meant that officers go for soft targets (including such trivial things as allegedly dropping an apple core), while ignoring serious crime, such as burglary. This week, however, there was a brief spark of hope that things were beginning to turn around. Metropolitan police chief Sir Ian Blair and London mayor Boris Johnson held a joint press conference, announcing that over a thousand arrests had been made, and 538 knives confiscated from youths, in a recent police initiative. Yet, a slap in the face to this hard work, and, indeed, to the general public, the Sentencing Guidelines Council has issued new sentencing guidelines that will mean anyone found guilty of possessing a knife will face only a small fine – no deterrent whatsoever.
The British are not known for protesting. But, today, with a lack of faith in the authorities, a grassroots movement against violence is beginning to emerge. Families of victims of violent crime are making themselves visible, and heard. Yesterday a march was led by the sister of Ben Kinsella, in response to his murder, calling for an end to the epidemic of violence.
Another article which conflates “Britain” with “London”.
I live in Birmingham UK and have never been worried. London however is like Detroit, New York, Babylon and Ancient Rome all at once.
“It’s the way cowardly”
I think cowardly is the operative word.
Good point, re: the sovereign failing to uphold his end of the bargain. I would only add that voters share just as much blame for electing and reelecting officeholders who create, sustain and expand such destructive policies.
Gee, for some reason, these knife crimes are not so common in Florida, Texas etc.
Reference: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
I wonder if you can carry a firearm in the U.K. if you cite Sharia law. Assuming you are a male with a beard whose toilet doesn’t face Mecca of course.
Maybe if the punishment fit the crime it might act as a deterrent, it's not the knives, it's the mindset that this behaviour is somehow "cool" that's the problem.
I remember when a single murder there was real front page news, how standards have fallen now.
And when they “eliminate” knives from British culture there will be a great upsurge in brick crime or piano wire crime.Inanimate objects must ultimately be banned.
Its that clockwork in the orange.
Looks like a prime time to set up a chain mail shop!
The victims need to arm themselves regardless of what the gun laws say in Britian.
The primary, some say only, role of government is to protect people from violence. Since the police can not be everywhere, the historical meaning of protection is that the government will apprehend and severely punish violent people. The government of lesser britain has taken on so many ancillary roles, that it can no longer perform its primary duty. Their government has failed completely.
“Violent crime has doubled since Labour came to power a decade ago.”
According to liberals the only causes of crime are “poverty” and/or “demographics.” Rudy Giuliani became mayor, was tough on crime, and the murder rate fell dramatically. “Demographics” they say - without offering any specifics. Liberals claim that crime can not be deterred. Liberal thinking on this matter is consistent with their thinking in general: incentives don’t matter. Of course, they are wrong. Incentives affect human behavior greatly.
I once gave an SCCA member a bumper sticker: “If they outlaw guns, can we use swords?”
Very funny then, very true now.
Then they’ll outlaw knives.
Then citizens are terrorized by rope and wire, to strangle victims. Flaming tire necklaces. And the old fashioned hit and kick to death with pipes, wood, rocks.
It's difficult to commit a drive by shooting when you are permanently stuck in nose to tail traffic...
That’s for sure
Socialists have little respect for their own national cultures, and too much respect for cultures that simply are not compatible with that natiuonal culture. Oil and water do not mix, unless some detergent is found to facilitate the process, and I submit that liberal capitalism, not socialism is that detergent.
With maybe a couple of Travis Bickells . "Are you talking to me ?"
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