General Chat

The prob with bans as i see it is ergo if record banned people will rush to buy it :(

Eldrick...I don't think bans work, but then I don't know what will. One of the main reasons I only stuck the police service for a little over a couple of years was I felt I was banging my head up a brick wall, (That and the Royal Navy promising me travel outside of Stoke-on-Trent lol)

So you think that bans are effective and work....?

Handguns banned in 1997 - need I say more?
Drugs banned in 1952...?
Fox hunting banned...
the list goes on and on and on......

Do you really think that making something illegal is a magic wand to prevent it being used in crime....?

Did you know that it is already a crime to be in possession of a knife or indeed any other offensive weapon in a public place....?With a power of arrest and a possible prison sentence...?

Knives should be banned from anyone under 21 and only then allowed with a permit and a good reason to need the use of knives outdoors. Anyone carrying these weapons - and yes they are weapons should be given a custodial sentence regardless of age.

As Angie said earlier a young man's life was lost today from this 'youth culture' where weapons of any description are apart of their attire.

Lock them up.

Gill

Yep, I would say thats about right - peer pressure, 'fashion' (which is just peer pressure anyway), feeling of toughness, etc.

So it needs to become fashionable for knife carrying to be unacceptable.

But for so many of them, the only prospect they have in life is to become a drug dealer or gang member or criminal......

In my view, ever increasing draconian punishments will do nothing for the cause of deterrence. Whilst accepting that if they are behind bars, they aren't committing crime (which should surely be the whole idea of imprisonment....?) it will have no effect at all on the numbers of youngsters carrying knives.

Please dont think that I am not an advocate of draconian sentencing - bring it on! Longer the better!

But lets not pretend that it is a deterrent - it isnt. Not even capital punishment is a deterrent - they are punishments pure and simple.

Colin,i agree they need some example as deterent.
Eldric that quite common with farmers too,think probable cause is poss peer pressure & fear of attack.Its the willingness to use thats the probem.

The cause is from others brainwashing them into believing it is ok to carry one, as it makes them feel tuff when they produce it,
Eldrick, you would have seen this in many situation. yes?

i agree with you colin xx

Another young life lost this morning others are injured in sidcup kent. something has to be done to stop this .


Angie x

What a load of b......t.
PC again.

I carry a knife all the time......a leatherman.

When I'm out shooting or fishing, I have a large one strapped to my belt.........

Carrying a knife is the symptom. What is the cause?

"Children carry knives because they are scared and increasing police powers to stop and search them will simply antagonise young people" - Children's Commissioner on BBC News this morning. Dont give a dam if people are antognised or scared, anyone of any age found carrying a knife should go to prison for a mandatory term 3-5 years should be enough for a first offence