UK Gun Ban: No Guns = No Crime. Right?

[Pearl Harbor]

Executive propose to crackdown on knife-crime:

A crackdown on Scotland's appalling knife-crime record began its
parliamentary passage today. The Executive published the Police Bill
which includes proposals to increase sentences for carrying offensive
weapons. It also gives the police more powers to stop and search.

Scotland's knife crime record is shocking - the country has the third
highest rate of murders from stabbings in Europe. The police bill will
double the maximum sentence for carrying a knife to four years, police
will have more powers to stop and search suspects and the legal age to
buy a non-domestic knife will be raised from 16 to 18.

The bill also tackles other areas of crime. Trouble makers at football
matches will be banned from football grounds, parades and marches will
be restricted to clampdown on sectarianism and supergrasses will be
encouraged to give evidence with the offer of shorter sentences,
although this final point is causing concern in human rights circles.

Overall opposition parties broadly welcome the bill and as a result it
is likely to become law next summer.

[chrisb84uk]

Sooner the better I say!!

[abbey]

England has most of these in place already, and it's made not one iota of difference!

[abbey]

I've just noticed the title of this thread, Re: UK Gun Ban: No Guns = No Crime. Right?
What's the significance with the story that you posted

[BabyRider]

Originally Posted by abbey

I've just noticed the title of this thread, Re: UK Gun Ban: No Guns = No Crime. Right?
What's the significance with the story that you posted

If I can wager a guess, I'd say that the title is "tongue-in-cheek." Since the gun ban obviously hasn't done a thing to prevent or lessen crime. Criminals are just finding different weapons.

I really had a good giggle at the "domestic knife" phrase. Because, of course, a domestic knife is completely unable to cause the same harm as a "non"-domestic knife. Whatever the hell that means. This is absurd. And giving the police MORE rights to search? Whooooeeee. Can't wait to see how the law-abiding citizens respond to that.

[gmc]

posted by babyrider

I really had a good giggle at the "domestic knife" phrase. Because, of course, a domestic knife is completely unable to cause the same harm as a "non"-domestic knife. Whatever the hell that means. This is absurd. And giving the police MORE rights to search? Whooooeeee. Can't wait to see how the law-abiding citizens respond to that.

The law abiding citizens are demanding that the police take action to deal with the problem and want to see the courts handing out stiff sentences to anyone found carrying a knife. A common complaint is that seentences are too lenient. Compared to the razor gangs of the 50's and 60's this the current spate of knife crime is mild that's why we expect the police to clamp down and clamp down hard before it gets any worse. Seeing the police lifting a bunch of knife weilding thugs will go down very well indeed.

Believe me we want to see the police lifting anyone carrying a knife and anyone crying breach of civil liberties will be laughed out of court as there is no justification for carrying an offensive weapon unless it is your intention to use it on someone. Anyone found carrying a knife about gets lifted, it's been that way in Scotland as long as I can remember.

Make no mistake the law abiding citizens are the one demanding this. They are also the ones that are demanding that the sale of air rifles to minors is stopped because they are not prepared to tolerate thugs taking pot shots at police and fireman and ambulancemen going about their duties. Along with the sale of "collectors" knives. Anyone buying a combat type knife is a nutter that should not have one- It's pretty simple really I live in Glasgow and i want a combat knife-you are a nutter and you will not get one, if we catch you with a knife you will go to jail.

The law abiding citizens are also the ones that demanded that hand guns be banned altogether even for use in a gun club. Post Dunblane those campaigning to keep to keep their guns got very little sympathy at all.

We have a problem with crime as does everybody else, but only a complete lunatic would believe that the answer if for everybody to be armed. Keep the american way you're welcome to it we are a long way from being the violence obsessed culture that america seems to be.

posted by abbey

England has most of these in place already, and it's made not one iota of difference

Banning alcohol at football matches make a heck of a difference to the level of violence, now they are trying out ways to curb sectarian violence at old firm matches.

[BabyRider]

Good God, here we go again...

Originally Posted by gmc

Believe me we want to see the police lifting anyone carrying a knife and anyone crying breach of civil liberties will be laughed out of court as there is no justification for carrying an offensive weapon unless it is your intention to use it on someone.

Of course. Absolutely. When I carry my gun, it means I am going out to shoot someone in the head. Isn't that what it's for, after all??
When you get your 2.5 inch pocket knives and nail clippers and emery boards taken away then we'll see how much you appreciate the cops following through with your "demands." When you can't go to the store and buy a set of kitchen knives for your home without having to go through 19 forms of release and safety classes and a background check, we'll see how happy you are with the laws you "demanded" be implemented.

The buck knife I use for dressing out deer is just as lethal as any kitchen knife, OR any so-called "combat" knife. When everything with a sharp edge, or anything that LOOKS like it has a sharp edge gets banned, we'll see how thrilled you are with your new laws.

Originally Posted by gmc

We have a problem with crime as does everybody else, but only a complete lunatic would believe that the answer if for everybody to be armed. Keep the american way you're welcome to it we are a long way from being the violence obsessed culture that america seems to be.

You realize that with this comment, you call me a lunatic? Along with many other members here, and not all of them American.
You're a "long way from the violence obsessed culture America seems to be"??? The above article would quite soundly contradict that statement, and again, it's offensive. Why is it that anywhere there's a gun ban, those citizens seem to think we're obsessed with violence? It's a narrow-minded, stereotypical, ERRONEOUS attitude.

And by the way, gmc, the word 'America' is CAPITALIZED. Your disdain is showing.

[Accountable]

Well I think at the very least that the UK should ban assault knives. I mean, the only reason for buying an assault knife is to kill, right? That is the intended purpose of such weapons. Nobody buys assault knives to hunt with. And that excuse that people like to use them just to throw at targets is ludicrous. A household knife is one thing, but the assault knives must go!

[BabyRider]

Originally Posted by Accountable

Well I think at the very least that the UK should ban assault knives. I mean, the only reason for buying an assault knife is to kill, right? That is the intended purpose of such weapons. Nobody buys assault knives to hunt with. And that excuse that people like to use them just to throw at targets is ludicrous. A household knife is one thing, but the assault knives must go!

Why, yes Acc. Simply the term "assault" would indicate to me that it's sole purpose is, of course, assault. No one ever uses a kitchen knife anywhere but the kitchen, right? Only butchers use butcher knives, parers use paring knives, combatants use combat knives.
Oh, wait...does that also mean that only bucks use buck knives? I better replace mine straight away. Now what the hell am I going to do with my fillet knife?

[gmc]

Good God, here we go again...

posted by babyrider

Of course. Absolutely. When I carry my gun, it means I am going out to shoot someone in the head. Isn't that what it's for, after all??

The UK is not the US, if someone is carrying a gun it is illegal and the odds are they have criminal intent. If someone is walking through the streets of a city with a knife on him he is either a chef on his way to work or a thug intending to use it on someone. Somone with a sheath knife out on the hills is probably hunting or climbing (most climbers carry knives to cut ropes etc I carry one myself) if he carries it back in civilisation they are either absent minded or intends to intimidate.

Someone in a night club with a knife has criminal intent, it's that simple. This is not about the British public being disarmed by their government it's about the british public demanding action is taken by the police to stop these little thugs-that's why we pay them.

You realize that with this comment, you call me a lunatic? Along with many other members here, and not all of them American.

In a UK context believing you need a gun for self defence makes you a paranoid nutter that is probably dangerous. Try and understand it is a different culture and yes those in the UK who advocate personal gun possession because they are afraid of being attacked I do regard as lunatics and exactly the type that should not be allowed a gun. If it seems logical in america then so be it.
If I'm going ouit for a night and someone with me is carrying a knife I would walk away becase he or she is exactly the type that will get in to a fight. I'm quite capable of defending myself I just prefer to avoid or talk my way out of it if I can. Our culture is every bit as violent as The US we just don't have guns as part of the equation to the same extent and we want to make sure we don't go the same way.

There was a discussion on Radio scotland-residents in baillieston, Glasgow, are having problems with rival gangs fighting in their streets and causing damage-their remedy is they want cctv installed so the police can spot groups congregating and life made difficult for them and the little sods arrested. What deters crime is the certainty of being caught, severe penalies are irrelevant if you can't catch theem at it. Cuty centre violence is a lot less where there is cctv. it's also quite useful in catching terrorists.

posted by babyrider

And by the way, gmc, the word 'America' is CAPITALIZED. Your disdain is showing.

Oh wow I forgot to put a capital A in America, big deal. Thanks for pointing it out, guess what I hadn't even noticed. Are you now so paranoid you think it's deliberately intented to annoy you? Get a life, find something worthwhile to get annoyed about. At least you can't shoot me for inadvertently giving offence