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Ted’s right, of course, but there’s something I don’t understand about the knife crime epidemic in Britland:

Once the populace was disarmed, the criminals still had guns, didn’t they? Lots of cheap handguns flooding in from former Soviet bloc and China.

But now, thugs would rather stab their victims than shoot them, even if illegal guns are available? It sounds like something truly insidious, a mass psychosis, is taking over the Brits. Violence that used to be the specialty of soccer yobbos (and they used fists, mostly) seems to be spreading like mass mental illness. Are the Brits so purposeless and disillusioned that turning on their fellow humankind is the only outlet remaining?

Thoughts?

Not so complicated.

Guns are banned, and knives are banned. So only outlaws have guns, and knives.

Basically, it’s possible for a violent thug to achieve the same degree of one-on-one intimidation (perhaps even more) over a victim, with a knife, and knives are quiet.

Guns are really, really loud. Britain is a small, densely populated country. Shoot a gun, and about 3,000 people know about it, instantly.

In a country with cameras on ever corner, in the era of cell phones (and most likely, an array of directional mikes), an instant dragnet about 5 seconds after a gunshot is reported.

I would imagine, the bad guys figure they can get exactly the same results with a knive, with almost zero risk of being aprehended. All they need to do, is somehow mask their identity to recording devices while they make their getaway, so someone reviewing the tapes the next day, can’t figure out who they are.

Scott free. They know their victims are unarmed, so they’ve basically got free money.

The flip side of this is ... if potential victims had guns, that calculation, would be completely invalid.

In other words, Ted Nugent is *completely* correct.

But Britain is hysterical, and beyond thinking rationally about this.

Next step: Sharia.

But now, thugs would rather stab their victims than shoot them, even if illegal guns are available?

Perhaps small time Thugs and punks without connections or the means to buy guns on the black market. They're also cowards who wouldn't pull that crap if their victims had the will and the means to fight back.

About a year ago I read about a British WWII veteran who beat the crap out of three "YOBs) who thought he would be an easy mark.

Our society is stifling humans natural tendency toward risk taking and individual aggressiveness. Most males especially young ones, except moderates and liberal dims, enjoy a good scrap and living life on the edge. A bloody nose and black eye now and then is good for the soul. A long time ago we had periodic smokers at high schools. Boxing matches where the gloves were so heavy just holding them up is what took you out. The coaches and phys ed teachers reffed and kept things safe and a good time was had by all. Not anymore. Males are kept caged by effeminate rules and political correctness. There are few well regulated and accessible outlets for aggression in our society. And the ladies are not immune to aggressive tendencies either. Eventually folks without outlets will snap. And when suppression is a society wide problem the avalanche will start. I think this is what is going on in England at the present time coupled with the removal of the moral restraints provided by vibrant church. Bad times ahead if they don't change their ways.

Interesting ideas. I can't imagine that the additional punishment for using a gun vs knife would be so significant as to deter the everyday criminal from using the gun. That being the only reason I could think of to answer your question.

There's something personal about using a knife rather than a gun I would think. Something ickier.

I can only say you're right. What the hell is going on in Britain....?