I've brought this topic up before, but now I have different info which really pi$$e$ me off. As part of our 'Life orientation' lessons, a police officer came and chated to our grade about crime, rape, laws protecting the innocent AND the criminal, etc.

I eneded up having an argument (rather embarreseing in hindsight <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />), but i cant see the logic...

Any person over the age of 18 can carry a licensed firearm on them as long as it is concealed. but, you will be arrested if you are cought with a (and i quote) "Knife that is sharp, unless you can prove that you need it (eg, you are going diving, camping etc)". even one of those tiny SAK.

My argument:
"Is a firearm, whether licensed or not, far more dangerous than a tiny SAK?"
Response:
"A firearm is lisened"
My argument:
"Can you lisence a penknife?"
Responce"
"no"
My argument:
"but you can cause far more harm with a liseced gun than a lisenced or unlisenced penknife"

New argument
me:
"why cant you carry a penknife as a utility tool? A gun can only be used to kill or injure."
response:
"A gun is used for self defence. Legally, you can't carry a utillity knife."

From there one, the argument went in circles, without the policeman answering my questions directly. I supose i can only adapt to this, as i obviously can't change the law. What are the alternatives to carrying a sharp edge for utility perposes? I often use my pocket knife (a kershaw folder with a a blade length of about 4 1/2 cm), and i feel underdressed without it. very, Very frustrating. <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Jonathan, I coincidentally was talking to two expatriate South Africans today about this subject. Firearms were formerly licensed and restricted to the 'whites' by custom and law. If you were 'black' obviously knifes would become a alternative weapon with restrictive measures to deter their carry. Most of Kenya's classic hunting rifles are now in the USA after their general confiscation to avoid access by revolutionary groups. Now laws are being passed to keep historical pieces from the Boer war and colonial period from being exported. Stupid? dumb? YES. As an aside, my friends were a Jew and Zulu. I sat there like a dummy listening to Afrikaans <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Quite an interesting conversation it seems <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />. To add to this debate (and this really made me mad), I was told that gangsters in the known 'gang areas' were allowed to carry knives for protection, while the average law-abiding citizan in the ''gang free area' of Rondebosch (the suberb I live in), are legally allowed to be arrested for carrying a SAK solitair! O.K, this is turning to politics, so i'm going to stop typng now.