Blunting knife sales and tackling the knife carriers

Couple of ideas emerged today discussing use of knives.

A friend of mine thought only knives without sharp points should be freely on sale i.e. blunt-ended, rounded-end knives. Sharp-pointed knife sales should be regulated. Maybe there's some mileage in that? Or is it really that practical. Not sure.

Another friend pointed out it's not the knives that are the dangers - it's the knife carriers. Really this means reaching the people who carry knives is what we should concentrate on.

Attacks on the streets, complaints about the police

As I spend a little time researching this apparently vicious, societal, knife culture that surrounds us, I'm continually alarmed at the regular tales about some kind of mindless attack or other.

Here's just one incident: an innocent young lad is walking along a small city high street (Chichester - my home town). A group of four youths pass by, and without motive, they turn back and set upon him, leaving him injured and shocked.

My mind turns to the ease at how a knife could have been pulled - and the result would have been far more deadly... in fact, fatal.

More worryingly still is when the police were contacted, the oft-repeated complaint is that officers do not do enough to make people feel their reports about this and similar attacks are properly investigated. Shame on the police, perhaps.

Boycott Dolce & Gabbana over idiot knife adverts

Fashionista idiots - Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has been criticised over "irresponsible" adverts which showed models wielding knives and others with graphic wounds.

Read the full story - BBC News

At your discretion, you can view a picture of the ad - D&G glorify wielding of knives

Here am I armed with nothing but a computer keyboard (and nil budget) trying to make an impression on this society's knife culture.

Then in one sweeping, multi-million pound advert campaign, those highly refined aesthetes at D&G damn themselves by trying to make knife-carrying part of fashion.

Don't know about aesthetes - more like aesholes.

What is galling is that they surely did it for the publicity. It's cashing in over the deaths and injuries of many people - pure and simple.

Without doubt, stylising blades in such a way is hugely distasteful and, more worryingly, dangerous and irresponsible, condoning and glamorising knives. Utter madness.

Similar points were made by Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (see the BBC News link above) and the Advertising Standards Authority.

If swearing helped, I'd do more - but it only shows frustration. So, time to be more proactive.
Only profits count to these sort of companies - so I'd ask anyone thinking about buying D&G to boycott them instead.

And why not drop the company an e-mail here, describing how poor the company is. If any of you discover other e-mail addresses, post them on this blog and I'll publicise them. Let me know any other campaigning ideas you have.

D&G - neurotic and pretentious berks from across the world hoping to live glossy mag dreams.
Narcisstic saps.

Fashionista idiots.

Student tackles knife crime issue at school

A teenager has written to this blog calling for changes in how knives are sold in the retail environment - as well as broader issues including knives used to protect young people from bullies.

I'm placing it as a formal blog entry to show how strongly and emotively that smart young people feel about this issue, not forgetting they too will work, run and vote in the UK in years to come.

Thanks Hannah - why not encourage friends and teachers who were affected by your drama performance to contribute their thoughts here? Going forward, I'll be putting this 'living petition' blog in front of MPs, police etc - and anyone else readers and contributors can think of. Simply - write your ideas, your feelings here.

Hannah's blog post:

"My name is Hannah - I'm a 14-year-old girl from Havant near to where the terrible incident happened in the Chichester Gate McDonalds.

"Although I had nothing to do with this, I feel strongly about the issue. Last year in my drama lesson at school, we were preparing a piece for a drama performance evening. Our class chose to do Theatre In Education - meaning that we have to educate the audience with our pieces.

"My idea was Knife Crime in schools, and how children bring knives into school for protection from bullies. It was a subject that touched the hearts of all of the audience - which is what we intended - and they came away knowing more about Knife Crime.

"Although most other groups chose to do something normal like drugs or sex, I chose Knife Crime because I think it's a very serious matter and people my age need to be told about it.

"Something needs to be done NOW before it gets worse, and more people die. Shops need to STOP selling knives asap... otherwise more fatalities will happen.

"Please help Mark and me to stop knife crime now."

PC stabbed - God knows how we help

It's so easy to get a knife and stab someone - sickeningly easy. A police constable has just been stabbed to death in Rutland. It's been all over the news this weekend. So sad.

BBC News - Leicestershire officer dead

God knows how this blog can really help change things but I won't give up. I make no apology for banging on about stopping retail outlets selling knives so openly.

People who stab - are they frustrated, red mist descends, then they lash out with a knife in their hand intending to extinguish life (or just injure)? Does it solve the problem they were stabbing out at? It certainly causes pain all round, especially to those left to pick up pieces, if they even can.

There needs to be restrictions - at least change this country's laws to put big knives behind shop counters or preferably out of sight underneath (removing temptation).

Like cigarettes and guns, knives can kill. We need licences to own guns and we have huge warning notices all over fags; why not similar approaches for knives - especially hunting knives and the like?

I wonder how effective this approach could be but some education is needed as well as trying restrictive practices, I'm sure.

Come on, let's change the law.