Posted on 06/02/2006 2:04:03 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
In its latest and broadest attempt to get knives off the streets and especially out of the hands of young people, the British government announced a nationwide knife amnesty program, says USA Today. Police hope to collect 30,000 knives that will be turned in at police stations, churches, supermarkets and schools around the country.
** Of the 839 homicides in England and Wales in the 12 months ending Nov. 28 -- the most recent period for which Home Office figures are available -- 29 percent involved sharp instruments including knives, blades and swords.
** Firearms account for just 9 percent of murders in Britain. The murder rate in Britain is 15 per million people.
** In contrast, the U.S. murder rate is 55 per million, according to the FBI. Of those, 70 percent of murders were committed with firearms; just 14 percent involved knives or cutting instruments.
** In London alone, there were 12,589 knife-related crimes last year. Police say the people most likely to carry knives are males ages 15 to 18.
The House of Lords is considering a crime-reduction bill that would raise the minimum age to buy a knife from 16 to 18, give teachers the power to physically search students and mandate jail time for possessing a knife without cause. In the meantime, officials hope setting up collection bins across the country during the amnesty will raise awareness and help reduce knife attacks.
Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, calls the amnesty program, "no more than a public relations exercise." The victims' rights advocacy group proposes tougher penalties, including a mandatory five-year prison sentence for anyone possessing a knife.
Source: César G. Soriano, "Amnesty Program Takes Aim at UK's 'Knife Culture,'" USA Today, May 31, 2005.
For text (subscription required):
What a mess England has become.
Unfortunately this isn't a Scrappleface parody.
These idiots deserve everything they get.
Truly a wimpy country ruled by hemophiliacs.
When I would confront gun-control advocates with the possibility that knife-control would follow, they would accuse me of taking the argument to an absurd extreme. Unfortunately, being proven right isn't really all that satisfying.
Theeir prosecution of violent crime has dropped off tremendously in the past twenty years.
Maybe they should worry about getting the thugs off the streets instead of pointy objects.
I predict a mass exodus of chefs from London.
Outlaw males fifteen to eighteen years of age. Now, what's the next problem I can solve for you.
Still hard to believe.
Next: Cricket Bat Amnesty.
Next up: Spoon control.
Sounds like the Brits are reverting back to their Celtic roots, soon they'll start forming clans and painting themselves blue
Which is weird that "slipperly slope" is considered a logical fallacy.
Not according to human nature it isn't.
Dangit, that's "slippery slope"
Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, calls the amnesty program, "no more than a public relations exercise." The victims' rights advocacy group proposes tougher penalties, including a mandatory five-year prison sentence for anyone possessing a knife.
"It's difficult to discuss the issue of knife crime without discussing the bigger picture of finding solutions to deal with the knife-carrying culture," says Frances Lawrence, an anti-knife activist. Her husband, Philip, a high school principal, was stabbed to death in 1995 while trying to protect a pupil outside his London school.
They don't give five year prison sentences to people who kill with a knife. Old story. A British friend resisted a robbery attempt and one of the robbers was stabbed with his own knife. My friend stood trial for the stabbing. Acquitted but cost lots of time and money.
The Bread-Knife Ballad
A little child was sitting Up on her mother's knee
And down down her cheeks the bitter tears did flow.
And as I sadly listened I heard this tender plea,
'Twas uttered in a voice so soft and low.
"Not guilty" said the Jury And the Judge said "Set her free,
But remember it must not occur again.
And next time you must listen to you little daughter's plea,"
Then all the Court did join in this refrain.
Chorus:
"Please Mother don't stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,
Remember 'twas a gift when you were wed.
But if you must stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,
Please Mother use another for the BREAD."
--- Robert Service
Bricks will be next to be outlawed.
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