Posted on 11/22/2004 4:41:35 PM PST by scouse
Crackdown targets knife culture
First Minister Jack McConnell has announced a five-point programme to clamp down on knife crime.
The maximum jail term for possessing an offensive weapon will be doubled from two years to four under the proposals.
He wants to ban the sale of swords and introduce a licensing scheme for retailers selling knives.
He also announced plans to give police more powers of search and arrest and to increase the age limit for buying a knife from 16 to 18.
The new measures are being drawn up by a cabinet sub-committee chaired by Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson.
The cabinet agreed to establish the group last Wednesday when it received a stark presentation about knife crime in Glasgow from Strathclyde Police.
Offensive weapon
"We had a particular discussion on the issue of knife crime recently and we have agreed a package of measures that we will be consulting on early in the New Year," said Mr McConnell.
"We will be putting forward the action we believe is required to tackle the scandalously high level of knife crime in Scotland."
He said that 50% of the homicides in Scotland in 2002 were caused by knives or other sharp instruments.
The remainder of this article can be accessed at URL given above
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
When I was in elementary school there was a time when team "kill the guy with the ball" became popular. The teams were the fifth grade against the sixth grade, so everyone knew what team they were on.
The teachers told us not to play, because they thought someone would get seriously hurt -- a legitimate concern, but we enjoyed the game immensly. Their solution was to take away the balls, except under teacher supervision.
Well, we began playing the game with a football instead of a round ball. So, they took away all the footballs, too.
After that, we used someone's hat. They couldn't take all those away.
Eventually the fad sort of died out, but not because the teachers removed the sports equipment.
I guess this proves that golf will drive you crazy.
Will everyone with a minimally equipped kitchen have REGISTER their cutlery? HaHa.
Bureaucrats trying to justify their employment.....
In many states in the U.S. if you are a trained fighter, your hands and feet qualify as deadly weapons. So, watch out.
It seems that only one weapon is left to the law abiding. I suggest you carry of copy of Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance" from which you can read aloud, thus causing your attackers to commit suicide or at least fall asleep.
Actually, if confiscation of butterknives leads to reduction in the use of vegimite, that won't necessarily be a bad thing.
In many states in the U.S. if you are a trained fighter, your hands and feet qualify as deadly weapons. So, watch out.
It seems that only one weapon is left to the law abiding. I suggest you carry of copy of Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance" from which you can read aloud, thus causing your attackers to commit suicide or at least fall asleep.
Waaaiiiiit a second. The Scottish banning pointy things?!? That's just not right!
I know why they're doing it. The smoking ban has gotten the Scottish so riled up, the government is scared that they're going to march on Parliament with pitchforks and hoes...so they ban and register all sharp objects in self-preservation.
Unbelievable. Where is modern Scotland's William Wallace?
}:-)4
Soon there will be a law against "running with scissors" law.
Orwelll was half right.
It will be Big Mother watching over us....
I respect the Brits for a lot of things; but they need to re-arrange their laws and prosecution processes.
I have a carry permit. I am a minister.
Figure that out. LOL
They have given up God and God has given up them.
A logical result from banning firearms and denying law-abiding citizens the right to self-defense. Somewhere, the framers of the Magna Carta are cussing and kicking the dog.
Yo, laddie First Minister Jack McConnell, just lock the thugs ups throw away the keys. Then allow the good Scottish citizens to rearm themselves for self defense.
Then draw and quarter any liberal judge who dares to even think about trying a good Scot for self defense against a thugh.
Known to generations of schoolchildren under the politically incorrect moniker of "smear the queer." Can't say it was the most popular game I ever played as a kid since I wound up getting stuck with the ball a lot...
}:-)4
Off topic...What is "vegimite"?
Hear it referenced in a song in the eighties but didn't know what "it" was.
Just curious....
Letter opener futures would seem a safe bet in the UK.
:o)
Weren't the guys who went after Bernie Goetz (sp? ca. 1980 NYV subway shooting) armed with screwdrivers?
Yeah, how many aussies and brits are killed by vegemite every year?
Good, we need more of both.
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