Doctors call for ban on kitchen knives

I found these two excerpts interesting:

A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings.

And then later:

Home Office spokesperson said there were already extensive restrictions in place to control the sale and possession of knives.

"The law already prohibits the possession of offensive weapons in a public place, and the possession of knives in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.

Personally, I just don't understand this. I mean, guns are illegal, nearly all knives are illegal, and still there are violent crimes committed with guns and knives. How can that be?

Obviously, criminals will notice the ban and think twice before carrying a weapon. It is obvious, isn't it?


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Hehe. If this is the route the legislators decide to take, I forsee 20 years down the line every piece of furniture being sold without corners, for fear of what could happen if someone falls. Seriously, the one thing that tidbit tells us, is that most people who commit a crime don't give it ample thought ahead of time and prepare. A kitchen knife is an expedient weapon- not one I would want to use.

And kitchen prep work will be done.... how?

People will always find ways to make a weapon. There are no knives or guns in prisons, yet somehow prisoners manage to kill one another on occassion. We're being legislated to death. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

A ban for kitchen knives with blades longer than 6" was discussed on our side of the pond too. The dropped the idea. At about the same time there where scientific reports that people would use weapons of opportunity and the ban may decrease the number of stabbings with knives but people might use e. g. screwdrivers instead. It seemed to haved influenced legislation.
Actually I'm surprised that the figure is as low as 50%.

> Doctors call for ban on kitchen knives

If you read the report you'll see they were doing no such thing. They were arguing that kitchen knifes shouldn't have long, sharp points. The call wasn't aimed at criminals, but at unplanned domestic violence using weapons of opportunity. Why make it needlessly easy for a moment of anger to do lasting damage that you'll regret later?

Also, note that it is an old report and that it was widely ridiculed at the time. That article ends with some sensible counter-arguments from officials, but of course they don't lead with those. It's journalism through sensationalism.

I'd have thought a screwdriver would do less damage than a long, sharp-pointed knife. So making them resort to screwdrivers would be a good thing.

We americans have an almost familial fear of UK firearm and knife laws. It's like having a mentally ill brother and worrying about the odds of some genetic or other contagion. It's a sad fact all advocates for and against the social engineering of people through technological access and denial use these half truth anecdotes. Both parties need to have their knuckles hit with a ruler. Rulers are still legal, are they not <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Well, the purely wooden or plastic ones are. The models with the metal straight edge can be weaponized, and are therefore banned. I personally don't mind my lines being a little crooked if it makes all of us safer. Imprecise drafting is just the price of freedom. Why do you hate America?

You heartless PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. fiend -- are you using a sharp point pencil for that irresponsible line drawing? Empires have been overturned with lesser weapons. Put down that graphite assault pencil and get a piece of charcoal. It's much safer for drawing, as long as you don't inhale that toxic black-lung dust.

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You can have my #2 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

When you outlaw pencils, only outlaws will have pencils.