In a move that has previously only been imagined in the punchlines of jokes, a group of emergency doctors in Great Britain is promoting the idea of a ban on long, pointed kitchen knives in a new editorial in the British Medical Journal. The recommendation comes in response to increases in knife attacks in recent years, a 17.9% increase in British violent crimes between 2003 and 2004, and a new study that shows that almost one quarter of 16-year-olds in Britain carry some sort of edged weapon.
The BBC story is here. The NY Times story is here.
Of course, if guns were re-legalized, the costs associated with entering a life of violent crime would be higher, but I guess Britain would rather have chefs with dull knives. What’s next, a legislative warrant for safety scissors?
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It will be not long before the Brittish government even bans Karate and other self-defense technique schools, once ruffians start using martial arts to rob and mug people.
British, not Brittish.
Granted if guns are legal people who attack with knives are more likely to be shot. But why should we suppose that knive wielding thugs make a rational choice about it. Also wouldn’t criminals just possibly buy guns.
Also a lot of innocent people (bystanders etc.) get shot in America, who don’t in Britain.
Finally Gary North and Lew Rockwell etc. ought to promoting the ‘turn the other cheek’ response. Many not all Austrians have such high moral character.
Sorry, British… And, you missed the point. Innocent people get shot indeed, the same way innocent people get run over by cars, or drown in pools. Do you think the government business is to ban cars and pools? How about banning household cleaning liquids, or 220 Volt electric systems, or silk stockings and ottomans (so they won’t hang themselves).
How about lobotomizing people so they will not make choices and hurt themselves? The problem, warbo, is that you entirely miss the point: it is IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, to limit people’s lives and how they live it just so they will be “safe”. We do not live within a zoo, and government is not our keeper. It is obvious to me, it should be obvious to you.
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