Posted on 09/21/2006 6:06:19 AM PDT by Grig
KNIVES are no different than guns -- they both are "tools of death," says the mother of stabbing murder victim Andrew Moffitt.
Paulette Moffitt has not failed to notice that knives have been used in two major crimes making headlines this week -- the brutal attempted murder of Karen Parker who was found in Britannia Park and the slaying of Sami El-Ghazal in a parking lot.
"A knife and a gun, the only difference is that the gun makes noise. They both take lives," she said, yesterday during a dedication ceremony of a plaque to honour her son.
The Moffitt family has long advocated on behalf of tougher penalties for knife crimes. They want a 10-year minimum sentence for anyone wielding a knife while committing a violent crime and a 25-year minimum sentence for anyone convicted of murder involving a knife.
MINIMUM SENTENCES
"If a gun would have been used, Andy's killer would still be in jail," she said. "He is out after serving three years of his light five-year sentence."
Andrew Moffitt, 23, was killed on Dec. 23, 1998, while at an Ottawa bar. His killer, Henry Danninger, had gone to the bar with a knife to confront a friend whom he believed had taken his drug stash.
Leeds-Grenville Tory MP Gord Brown will put forward his private member's bill this fall seeking to have mandatory minimum sentences handed down to killers who use knives.
Moffitt said politicians have to start listening to the victims and families of victims.
"We want to be treated the same as victims of guns," she said.
"Our sons deserve the same justice and the penalties should be the same."
The Moffitt family was present at the plaque unveiling held in front of the University of Ottawa's School of Information, Technology and Engineering at 800 King Edward Ave.
The plaque recounted the tragic death, but also the heroics of Moffitt whose death was brought about by his efforts to intervene in a brawl. He was posthumously honoured with the Governor General's Medal of Bravery.
END OF EXAMS
Moffitt was an engineering student at the university. On the night of his death, he was celebrating the end of exams.
"I am just touched so much by it. Every person and student who walks by here will see Andy."
I think we can accomodate these people who want to be really really really safe. All we have to do is lock them in a rubber padded room with no sharp objects and put them in a straightjacket and tell them that everyone else in the country (except carefully screened and duly authorized caregivers) are in other rooms just like theirs. They should feel very safe then.
Never bring a knife to a gun fight! ;)
Everybody should carry a knife and a gun
>> You know where this is going.... "Oh yes, we must register every knife, especially 'assult knifes' specially made for cutting meat. And if you lose a knife you better report it. Nobody really needs a hunting knife and certainly not a sword (which should be banned)...."
And then we'll start reading headlines like "Rocks are 'Tools of Death' no different than guns and knives". With the inevitable calls for registering every 'assault rock'.
Make 'em eat with chop sticks, and buy pre-cut up food. Or maybe only cold soup.
Apparently she has never tried to cut a steak with a Glock pistol.
I don't know...baseball bats scare the heck out of me. Ban 'em.
Love your tagline!
A knife does not kill, a gun does not kill, PEOPLE kill. The person who does no understand this is just an Ostrich.
It is not the sword that does the beheading.
I was prepared to ridicule this article, but having read it, there really is nothing here to ridicule. This isn't about banning knives; it's about punishing criminals who happen to use knives for their crimes.
Soylent Green
Maybe Williams-Sonoma will join the NRA to set up a "Chef's Defense Fund", to demand that our Second Amendment right to individual cooking utensil ownership be preserved. ;)
Does this mean I have to register my JA Henckel kitchen tool set?
Smack this woman, she needs a good smacking.
Jeez, more hyper-emotional hysterics from the loony left.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.