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How can our politicians understand blade culture?
guardian.co.uk ^ | July 14, 2008 | Rowenna Davis

Posted on 07/14/2008 11:22:50 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY

New proposals to tackle knife crime demonstrate just how little ministers know about the context our kids are operating in.

Young people don't get involved with crime because they don't know the consequences; in many cases, it's precisely because they do know the consequences that they carry a blade.

When you know just how bad a stab wound can be, you want to keep a knife close to your chest to have some credible threat of self-defence against others. This has been recognised by the government's own newly appointed lead on knife crime, Alf Hitchcock, who has said that 85% of young people who carry blades do so because they fear for their personal safety.

Many of these young people would give up their knives if they knew everyone else would. But when that can't be guaranteed, which kid is going to be the first to volunteer to walk unarmed?

Many young people who carry knives don't just know about the consequences second-hand. A few weeks ago I met a girl in a hospital recovering from a stab wound. Before her bandages had even been taken off, she was telling me how she was going to "get back" the girl who attacked her. Our hospital doors are revolving as the same kids repeatedly come back with the same problems.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: bang; knifecontrol; knifegrabbers; nannystate; thereisnoenglandnow
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1 posted on 07/14/2008 11:24:00 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Many of these young people would give up their knives if they knew everyone else would.

It isn't just knives. Street weapons in England are comprised of a whole lot of home fabricated nastiness from boards with protruding nails on up...

2 posted on 07/14/2008 11:25:44 AM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

THE Alf Hitchcock????


3 posted on 07/14/2008 11:26:34 AM PDT by WayneS (What the hell is wrong with these people?)
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To: WayneS

4 posted on 07/14/2008 11:28:10 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (McCain / Kerry '08! ************* McCain's Dream Ticket, only the names have been reversed)
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To: weegee

England is cool - everyone carries weapons and knows martial arts and stuff. It’s like living in the Water Margin.


5 posted on 07/14/2008 11:31:32 AM PDT by agere_contra
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To: Free ThinkerNY

A whole generation of Brits has been head-screwed by their culture, and all the government can do is try to keep sharp objects out of their hands. The UK has turned into a huge insane asylum.


6 posted on 07/14/2008 11:41:07 AM PDT by Spok
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Many of these young people would give up their knives if they knew everyone else would. But when that can't be guaranteed, which kid is going to be the first to volunteer to walk unarmed?

Must...resist...comment...

"Knife culture." "Gun culture." The easiest way to understand these terms is to realize that individuals using them almost never know what they are talking about.

7 posted on 07/14/2008 11:43:21 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Free ThinkerNY
I frequently carry this exact knife clipped inside my pocket.

Benchmade Elishewitz Carbon Fiber Knife, Combo-Edge & BC1 Coating, Rose Wood Handle-$135.00

The only person I've stabbed with it is myself. Accidentally of course. It was my first and hopefully last ambulance ride. I primarily use it to open packages. Which is how I had the accident.

8 posted on 07/14/2008 11:45:48 AM PDT by BreezyDog
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To: Free ThinkerNY
I keep a couple of these 4 inch razor scrappers in my truck as part of my job. One in each hand and a little know-how could be mighty dangerous.
9 posted on 07/14/2008 11:58:47 AM PDT by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Poor Rowenna Davis. The answer to her question is found in her own article. She just doesn't recognize it.

Their policy of getting young people to talk to stabbing victims rests on the belief that kids respond to education and are capable of empathy, something that the Conservative policy of locking anyone up caught carrying a knife doesn't seem to appreciate.

But what poor Rowenna doesn't understand is that neither policy works.

First, we need to identify the fact that not everyone who carries a knife has criminal intent. In fact in her own article she points out that 85% of kids polled claim to carry it for self-defense. If even half of them were telling the truth, that means that 40%+ of kids carry knives to protect themselves.

So the policy of outlawing knives fails because it does not support the Natural Right of self-defense.

But the second point is where Rowenna falls completely short of logic. These kids, in fact, will not "respond to education" and are not "capable of empathy".

The British culture has shown them that there is no morality (so therefore empathy is a pointless exercise) and that Government will not be consistant in it's application of force (imprisoning those defending themselves while letting violent criminals out for holidays).

This behavior by the British Government is known as inconsistant negative reinforcement and is studied by the Behavioralist branch of psychology. It tends to produce neurosis and psychosis in people at a much higher rate than any other form of reinforcement of reward or punishment.

In short, look back to Burgess "A Clockwork Orange" for a prophetic look at what Britain has been become.

10 posted on 07/14/2008 12:16:00 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: BreezyDog

yep. i’ve got a bunch of spyderco, crkt, and cold steel knives for various purposes. 99% of the time, they’re simply tools- open boxes, cut rope/ twine, strip electrical wire, and a host of other simple tasks, used frequently because it is always in my pocket.
only once even thought i might use it as a defensive tool- had a dog charging me. as soon as it came out of my pocket he turned away.


11 posted on 07/14/2008 12:16:32 PM PDT by absolootezer0 ( Detroit: we're so bad, even our mayor is a criminal)
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To: wolfcreek

I remember seeing an executive catalog that offered an “ice scraper” that fit in the palm of your hand. Executives were warned “not” to ever hit anyone in the face with the “ice” scrapper as it could do extensive damage.


12 posted on 07/14/2008 12:36:26 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: weegee

I’ve seen the damage these razor srappers can do, up close. Better than a boxcutter. (and this was someone using them for what they’re supposed to be used for)

Not pretty.


13 posted on 07/14/2008 12:41:43 PM PDT by wolfcreek (I see miles and miles of Texas....let's keep it that way.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
I propose that the only food available in Great Britain be oatmeal. That way people won't need knives.

Problem solved.

14 posted on 07/14/2008 12:49:39 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (G-d gave us Law a fool could follow, but a genius couldn't comprehend)
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To: Billthedrill
"Knife culture." "Gun culture." The easiest way to understand these terms is to realize that individuals using them almost never know what they are talking about.

What simply amazes is that they are not talking about the "root causes" of crime. /sarc

As you rightly point out, if the society were allowed to carry guns, then none of this would be necessary. Civility would return. A well armed society is a polite society.

15 posted on 07/14/2008 1:00:48 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (I will not vote for Obama not because he is black, but because he is RED)
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To: wolfcreek

This one didn’t look like a razor, judging from the picture, it looked more like some sort of “knuckle” device that could bust up ice on a window among other things.


16 posted on 07/14/2008 1:03:23 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: Carry_Okie

17 posted on 07/14/2008 1:06:36 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: Carry_Okie
Or you could have it by the glass...


18 posted on 07/14/2008 1:07:45 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
When you know just how bad a stab wound can be, you want to keep a knife close to your chest to have some credible threat of self-defence against others. This has been recognised by the government's own newly appointed lead on knife crime, Alf Hitchcock, who has said that 85% of young people who carry blades do so because they fear for their personal safety.

Thank you Minister Obvious.

19 posted on 07/14/2008 1:17:24 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
...... newly appointed lead on knife crime, Alf Hitchcock, who has said that 85% of young people who carry blades do so because they fear for their personal safety.


20 posted on 07/14/2008 1:17:37 PM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("Sincerity is everything. If you can fake that, youÂ’ve got it made." Groucho Marx)
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