NationStates Jolt Archive

wtf?! I just found out that in my country (England in the UK), you can get up to 2 years imprisonment for carrying a knife (subject to exceptions) or up to 4 years for carrying on on school premises (subject to exceptions)...

...but for selling a knife to a person under 16, the maximum penalty is only 6 MONTHS imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine!

So for carrying a knife you can potentially end up inside for 4 years, but for illegally selling a knife you don't even get a full year!

Considering the dangers of knives (as evidenced in recent weeks in English newspapers), that's like giving drug dealers lower sentences than people who use drugs!

No wonder there's been so many attacks recently if those who deal in knives (yes, I would go so far as to call it dealing in knives, as it's the same concept as drug dealing, illegally providing something dangerous for money) don't get proper punishments.

What do you all think about this?

I personally think the sentence for carrying a knife should be a set five years (except in exceptional circumstances such as the person carrying the knife is a very young child, as it would be pretty stupid to start locking up 9-year-olds etc.), changing to 10 years for in/very close to a school, and...

...that dealers should get 15 years MINIMUM for illegal selling of knives. May sound harsh, but what excuse is there for selling a knife to someone under 16?

I think I need to remember not to go to the Uk because I always carry my pocketknife (and might carry something larger if I had it). That's what I think. That, and the UK needs a good lesson in common sense regarding weapons laws.

well sorta of the same.
in connecticut minors can buy ciggerets and blow smoke in the cops smoke, not ilegal. the person that gets in trouble is the actualy seller.(f'd up? yes).

same with alcohol, my dad can buy five 6 packs of beer, and give it to my friends because its on private property( dont worry senates trying to get rid of this one) but in Connecticut, no alcohal on sundays.

Anarchy land34']well sorta of the same.
in connecticut minors can buy ciggerets and blow smoke in the cops smoke, not ilegal. the person that gets in trouble is the actualy seller.(f'd up? yes).

True, I work at a store which cells ciggarettes... if we sell to a minor, the store gets fined 500 dollars. However, the person who bought them doesn't get in trouble at all.

Course, they should just be illegal anyways, but thats off topic.

Is there a legal blade length you can carry in the UK?

Anarchy land34']well sorta of the same.
in connecticut minors can buy ciggerets and blow smoke in the cops smoke, not ilegal. the person that gets in trouble is the actualy seller.(f'd up? yes).

same with alcohol, my dad can buy five 6 packs of beer, and give it to my friends because its on private property( dont worry senates trying to get rid of this one) but in Connecticut, no alcohal on sundays.

hmm you seem to have totally the opposite point of view from me - that the seller should get in less trouble. What's your logic for taht? My logic for believing that the seller should get in MORE trouble (in the case of knives for example) is because if they weren't illegally selling knives, there would be less people carrying knives thus less deaths.

And Koon, I think we'd be a bit stupid to take up an offer of "commonsense" from the USA regarding weapons laws, considering how many guns are floating about (and killing people) in the USA... and granted, the UK is a smaller nation (and of course England is even smaller), but even if it was increased to the size of the USA, there would still be less shootings than in the USA, based on the current proportions.

And Koon, I think we'd be a bit stupid to take up an offer of "commonsense" from the USA regarding weapons laws, considering how many guns are floating about (and killing people) in the USA... and granted, the UK is a smaller nation (and of course England is even smaller), but even if it was increased to the size of the USA, there would still be less shootings than in the USA, based on the current proportions.

Eh, okay, I'll have to check my statistics I suppose. Though by commonsense I just meant "If I have a weapon I won't be intimidated by someone else having a weapon," and there's the whole thing where if it's illegal to own weapons then only the people who don't really care about the laws are going to have them.

Is there a legal blade length you can carry in the UK?

If it's a knife, then it's illegal to carry it (subject to certain exceptions - eg. you've just bought a kitchen knife as part of a set and are taking the unopened box home) in public and illegal to sell it, period. Same goes for items with a blade.

So no.

As for selling, only certain items with a blade (but not knives) can be legally sold to under-16's.

This is from here http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/knifeamnesty.htm

...commonsense I just meant "If I have a weapon I won't be intimidated by someone else having a weapon," ...

THAT kind of thinking is what has contributed to the recent rise in knife-related deaths - people think they won't be intimidated by someone else with a weapon, thus they end up using their weapon (or it gets used on them) and someone ends up dead


and there's the whole thing where if it's illegal to own weapons then only the people who don't really care about the laws are going to have them

It is illegal to own a weapon in the UK, except for certain circumstances (eg. owning a sword if you are a member of a Martial Arts club that uses swords). Just that the sentences aint tough enough in my opinion. It's also illegal to carry a weapon in the U.K., subject to certain exceptions again. I nearly got arrested for carrying either a stick or a bottle once (can't quite remember which it was).

THAT kind of thinking is what has contributed to the recent rise in knife-related deaths - people think they won't be intimidated by someone else with a weapon, thus they end up using their weapon (or it gets used on them) and someone ends up dead.

But see, I (and a lot of other Americans) feel a ton safer armed than not armed. We know humanity kind of sucks at being moral.

It is illegal, except for certain circumstances. Just that the sentences aint tough enough in my opinion. I nearly got arrested for carrying either a stick or a bottle once (can't quite remember which it was).

Sorry, but my instinctive reaction is, "That's ridiculous!" I mean... okay, I can't come up with a coherent response to that.

Firstly you can't be sent to gaol for being an under sixteen <anything at all>. Secondly if you are carrying a knife in a school that's one thing. Selling someone a knife is another thing. For a start if the guy selling the knife has a business that's fucked. The kid buying a knife probably hasn't much of an empire.

And thirdly. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. You don't sue BMW for abetting drink driving.

A laymans guide to knife laws in the UK (http://www.bkcg.co.uk/guide/law.html)

A lot depends on interpretation, as does nearly all law in the UK. Common (sense) law is good like that.

If it's a knife, then it's illegal to carry it (subject to certain exceptions - eg. you've just bought a kitchen knife as part of a set and are taking the unopened box home) in public and illegal to sell it, period. Same goes for items with a blade.

So no.

As for selling, only certain items with a blade (but not knives) can be legally sold to under-16's.

This is from here http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/knifeamnesty.htm
Wow, that sounds pretty harsh.
Here's the laws on knives in my state (Texas):

http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/tx.txt

But see, I (and a lot of other Americans) feel a ton safer armed than not armed. We know humanity kind of sucks at being moral.

Ah but FEELING safer is not always the same as BEING safer, as evidenced in recent weeks in England. Carrying a knife may make a person feel safer, but as has been evidenced, if a confrontation starts up, that person is likely to pull out the knife without a second thought, and use it in self-defence, potentially killing the other person (even if they stick it somewhere they think it won't kill - like the stomach or back, as their are vital organs right nearby (ask any doctor, our bodies are pretty crowded))



Sorry, but my instinctive reaction is, "That's ridiculous!" I mean... okay, I can't come up with a coherent response to that.

Well I was threatening my bro with it :)

But even if I wasn't, I could have still been planning to harm someone with it

Firstly you can't be sent to gaol for being an under sixteen <anything at all>. Secondly if you are carrying a knife in a school that's one thing. Selling someone a knife is another thing. For a start if the guy selling the knife has a business that's fucked. The kid buying a knife probably hasn't much of an empire.

And thirdly. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. You don't sue BMW for abetting drink driving.

Sorry, but you're wrong. Quite a few under-16s have been sent to jail (gaol). It's under-10's who usually can't be sent to jail. I noticed you used the old spelling of jail, are you from Northerna Ireland (and thus the laws may be different from England)?

In England you can definitely be put in prison for breaking a law even if you're under 16 (but not usually under 10).

As for the guy (or woman) selling the knife, I didn't just mean individuals on the street, I meant shopkeepers as well who are happy to sell knives to under-16's. And if they sell to enough people, they make a lot of extra cash, knowing they can only get a short sentence for it if they get reported or caught.

Guns might not kill people, but it's a lot harder to kill people with a gun if guns are illegal, because they are more difficult to come by, hence the reason there aint so many floating around the UK (there may be more than there use to be, but nowhere near as many as in countries where guns are legal).

If you British hadn't let those royalists disarm you of your guns, the knife question would be moot!

wtf?! I just found out that in my country (England in the UK), you can get up to 2 years imprisonment for carrying a knife (subject to exceptions) or up to 4 years for carrying on on school premises (subject to exceptions)...

...but for selling a knife to a person under 16, the maximum penalty is only 6 MONTHS imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine!

So for carrying a knife you can potentially end up inside for 4 years, but for illegally selling a knife you don't even get a full year!

Considering the dangers of knives (as evidenced in recent weeks in English newspapers), that's like giving drug dealers lower sentences than people who use drugs!

No wonder there's been so many attacks recently if those who deal in knives (yes, I would go so far as to call it dealing in knives, as it's the same concept as drug dealing, illegally providing something dangerous for money) don't get proper punishments.

What do you all think about this?

I personally think the sentence for carrying a knife should be a set five years (except in exceptional circumstances such as the person carrying the knife is a very young child, as it would be pretty stupid to start locking up 9-year-olds etc.), changing to 10 years for in/very close to a school, and...

...that dealers should get 15 years MINIMUM for illegal selling of knives. May sound harsh, but what excuse is there for selling a knife to someone under 16?

The person selling the knife isnt planning upon using it. The person carrying a knife may be.

If you British hadn't let those royalists disarm you of your guns, the knife question would be moot!

We never had guns. The restrictions on militia in the UK are older than firearms.

The US gun discussion is not applicable to the UK. The circumstances are just so different, so don't bring any of the need for an armed citizenry arguments to this discussion. They are irrelevant.

The person selling the knife isnt planning upon using it. The person carrying a knife may be.
Yeah, that's just what I said.

You can kill someone with a chairleg or a screwdriver or a rock. Like that guy in the monkey suit at the start of 2001. Any business which sells knives to kids is going to fold if the salesman gets banged up for 4 months. It's a big penalty.

The person selling the knife isnt planning upon using it. The person carrying a knife may be.
Yeah, that's just what I said.

You can kill someone with a chairleg or a screwdriver or a rock. Like that guy in the monkey suit at the start of 2001. Any business which sells knives to kids is going to fold if the salesman gets banged up for 4 months. It's a big penalty.

Yeah, that's just what I said.

You can kill someone with a chairleg or a screwdriver or a rock. Like that guy in the monkey suit at the start of 2001. Any business which sells knives to kids is going to fold if the salesman gets banged up for 4 months. It's a big penalty.

And so it should fold in my opinion. The person selling the knife may not be planning on using it, but by selling the knife illegaly, they are causing the knife to be in the hands of a person who intends to use it dangerously. In other words, they are encouraging dangerous illegal activities that could lead to death, just as drug dealers are. So why shouldn't those who illegally sell dangerous knives get harsh penalties just like those who illegall sell dangerous drugs?

wtf?! I just found out that in my country (England in the UK), you can get up to 2 years imprisonment for carrying a knife (subject to exceptions) or up to 4 years for carrying on on school premises (subject to exceptions)...

...but for selling a knife to a person under 16, the maximum penalty is only 6 MONTHS imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine!

So for carrying a knife you can potentially end up inside for 4 years, but for illegally selling a knife you don't even get a full year!

Considering the dangers of knives (as evidenced in recent weeks in English newspapers), that's like giving drug dealers lower sentences than people who use drugs!

No wonder there's been so many attacks recently if those who deal in knives (yes, I would go so far as to call it dealing in knives, as it's the same concept as drug dealing, illegally providing something dangerous for money) don't get proper punishments.

What do you all think about this?

I personally think the sentence for carrying a knife should be a set five years (except in exceptional circumstances such as the person carrying the knife is a very young child, as it would be pretty stupid to start locking up 9-year-olds etc.), changing to 10 years for in/very close to a school, and...

...that dealers should get 15 years MINIMUM for illegal selling of knives. May sound harsh, but what excuse is there for selling a knife to someone under 16?

Umm whittling?

Damn, I'm about to get my CCW...and britian is punishing people over KNIVES!

:eek:

So for carrying a knife you can potentially end up inside for 4 years, but for illegally selling a knife you don't even get a full year!

Unless he's caught for selling them illegally for a while. Send a few undercover people in and then bust him for doing it 4 times. Boom, 2 year sentence.

Umm whittling?

Damn, I'm about to get my CCW...and britian is punishing people over KNIVES!

:eek:

Yeh, um, maybe it's got something to do with all the recent knife attacks? :headbang:

Unless he's caught for selling them illegally for a while. Send a few undercover people in and then bust him for doing it 4 times. Boom, 2 year sentence.

Not as far as I'm aware it's not. As far as I'm aware, it's still only shitty 6 month sentence and/or £5,000 fine.

But on the undercover not, is it possible to a buy a cheap covert camera (moving camera, eg. camcorder/Mini DV style but covert)? OR, does anyone know where I can get one of those remote clip-on microphones like the ones that are used on the news but that is compatible with a Mini DV camera?

Not as far as I'm aware it's not. As far as I'm aware, it's still only shitty 6 month sentence and/or £5,000 fine.

But on the undercover not, is it possible to a buy a cheap covert camera (moving camera, eg. camcorder/Mini DV style but covert)? OR, does anyone know where I can get one of those remote clip-on microphones like the ones that are used on the news but that is compatible with a Mini DV camera?
4 x 6 months = 2 years.

If it's a knife, then it's illegal to carry it (subject to certain exceptions - eg. you've just bought a kitchen knife as part of a set and are taking the unopened box home) in public and illegal to sell it, period. Same goes for items with a blade.

So no.

As for selling, only certain items with a blade (but not knives) can be legally sold to under-16's.

This is from here http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/knifeamnesty.htm

So, if you take a butterknife from home, and are caught walking around with it, you can go to jail? :eek:



I guess that's one way to make sure your streets are safe. http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/anim_lol.gif

Don't forget that you can buy knives anywhere and this also applies to average people working in supermarkets, fishing stores, etc. rather than "dealers". I suspect that there are more stringent penalties for those who actually attempt to import large amounts of them.

So, if you take a butterknife from home, and are caught walking around with it, you can go to jail? :eek:



I guess that's one way to make sure your streets are safe. http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/anim_lol.gif

Butterknives can hurt :)

And Bogstonia, I'm nit sure, but I think, unlike other laws, if a shopkeeper is found guilty of illegally selling knives then no matter how many times they've done it before the prosecution, they can only get a 6-month sentence

Don't forget that you can buy knives anywhere and this also applies to average people working in supermarkets, fishing stores, etc. rather than "dealers". I suspect that there are more stringent penalties for those who actually attempt to import large amounts of them.

Shopkeepers who sell knives illegal are dealing in illegal knife-selling, thus they are dealers.

Stringent penalties? Pfft I doubt it with this government.

Butterknives can hurt :)

And Bogstonia, I'm nit sure, but I think, unlike other laws, if a shopkeeper is found guilty of illegally selling knives then no matter how many times they've done it before the prosecution, they can only get a 6-month sentence
Yeah, you are probably right. I was just doing the maths from New Domici's post.

I wonder if carrying 3 knives can be considered for personal use but more than 20 knives is trafficing :D

Shopkeepers who sell knives illegal are dealing in illegal knife-selling, thus they are dealers.

I'm not talking about shopkeepers who own the store, i'm talking about your average 16 year old cashier working for a supermarket who has nothing to benefit out of it materially - penalties, and even jail-time, apply to them as well.

I don't think the police are so stupid as to not make a distinction between people like that and people who go around selling machetes imported from Pakistan or whatever.

So, if you take a butterknife from home, and are caught walking around with it, you can go to jail? :eek:


I guess that's one way to make sure your streets are safe.

If you have a stick, or a pointy twig you can be done for carrying a weapon. If you have knives or tools for the purpose of your trade you're allowed have them.

Even if you are on your way to church you are liable to be strip searched in case you have a samurai sword hidden about your person. ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/540387.stm )

The UK needs to ban knives to stop crimnals. I hope one day the USA will be prosecuted for allowing gun companies to be around. I hate the USA. I wish we were in a peaceful world. I love the Muslims, I hope they don't hate us, we are not the USA, we hate the USA.

We never had guns. The restrictions on militia in the UK are older than firearms.


The US gun discussion is not applicable to the UK. The circumstances are just so different, so don't bring any of the need for an armed citizenry arguments to this discussion. They are irrelevant.

Not exactly. British gun control took many acts over 300 years to get where it is today. And Brits were extraordinarily well armed during WW2. There's no reason why this couldn't have been adjusted.

Did I say anything about the US? ;)

The UK needs to ban knives to stop crimnals. I hope one day the USA will be prosecuted for allowing gun companies to be around. I hate the USA. I wish we were in a peaceful world. I love the Muslims, I hope they don't hate us, we are not the USA, we hate the USA.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Ban knives to stop criminals? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. That's worked really well for guns, eh? What's next, banning hammers?

As for the unattached USA hatred, I wish you'd wake up and smell the napalm. THe US doesn't hate Muslims. The Muslims don't hate the US.
However, a sect of deranged Muslims want to turn the calendar back to 1300 or so and convert the entire planet to live under their Caliphate.

Fuck that.

We never had guns. The restrictions on militia in the UK are older than firearms.

The US gun discussion is not applicable to the UK. The circumstances are just so different, so don't bring any of the need for an armed citizenry arguments to this discussion. They are irrelevant.

one reason for your history of ww2 - i know a long time ago but read up on dunkirk and the aftermath

if the us hadn't provided some firearms you could be speaking german today or not be here at all

The UK needs to ban knives to stop crimnals. I hope one day the USA will be prosecuted for allowing gun companies to be around. I hate the USA. I wish we were in a peaceful world. I love the Muslims, I hope they don't hate us, we are not the USA, we hate the USA.

too bad - get a life - you do realize that mao wrote that politics are enforced by the gun? - you have none living in merry old now and are little better than 17th century serf if .gov wants to make it so

ymmv

Quite simply put, in order to sell a knife, you must first possess it. I would say it's a matter of intent. Is selling a knife implying intent to do bodily harm? Or is possessing it?

That, and the UK needs a good lesson in common sense regarding weapons laws.

I don't see what is wrong with outlawing carrying a knife in public. I agree this sentencing situation is not ideal to say the least, but I think that the general idea is sensable.

Yeah, you are probably right. I was just doing the maths from New Domici's post.

I wonder if carrying 3 knives can be considered for personal use but more than 20 knives is trafficing :D

Apparently you can legally have 3 samurai swords because that constitutes a collection, but just one and its a weapon.

About the first post, the guy selling the knives isnt a dealer, hes just running a business. if he knowingly sells knives to under 16s then a harsh punishment would be in order, but a kid could look 19 and be 15, then the shop keeper would get fucked over. Although why anyone is allowed to buy knives is beyond me.

What do you all think about this?I think that if you're caught with a knife, you should convince the police you were trying to sell it. That way you'll get just 6 months (or a fine) for selling, rather than 2-4 years for carrying.

I think its logical. Selling a knife might be illegal, but it doesnt cause harm per se. Buying a knife with the intent of causing bodily harm is more severe. If you dont mean to use the knife, dont buy one and dont bitch that you cant have one.
With drugs it is different, because the drugs is harmfull to the user/buyer thus the dealer is seen as the one causing more harm.

The UK needs to ban knives to stop crimnals. I hope one day the USA will be prosecuted for allowing gun companies to be around. I hate the USA. I wish we were in a peaceful world. I love the Muslims, I hope they don't hate us, we are not the USA, we hate the USA.

You're funny. http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7538/owllolno2nx.jpg

Who would have the authority to prosecute the US for allowing firearms manufacturers to exist? Nobody has that authority, as it's the sovereign right of the US to allow firearms in its nation. Also, why would the US be prosecuted? There's no worldwide agreement or law that says firearms are illegal.

As far as your hate of the US, http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3821/owlpoop7wh.jpg








PS. I'm using the above pictures in my argument, because I believe what you wrote deserves such silliness.

May sound harsh, but what excuse is there for selling a knife to someone under 16?

My sons, ages 6 and 8, both have Swiss Army Knives as pocketknives.

They don't use them as weapons, since they have some common sense, and have been taught to use them as tools.

Knives are tools. If someone is using them to harm others, they are already breaking the laws against assault, battery, and murder.

Although the knives are not allowed at school, the boys have them on them when they get home, and have them everyday while at play.

Next question.

since they have some common sense

One of these days you'll be thinking "I can't believe that at one stage I actually wrote that". Probably when you find a name carved into the back of something uncommonly expensive.


Over 30,000 dead in the states from firearms in 2003, in Ireland including all the drugs and robberies and muggings and so forth, 12.
Says something for gun control.

One of these days you'll be thinking "I can't believe that at one stage I actually wrote that". Probably when you find a name carved into the back of something uncommonly expensive.


Over 30,000 dead in the states from firearms in 2003, in Ireland including all the drugs and robberies and muggings and so forth, 12.
Says something for gun control.

Not much. Consider that studies show that 1.5 million crimes are stopped by the presence of a person with a gun who doesn't fire it.

And consider that 94 percent of US violent crime involves no weapon at all.

The deaths per year are down to around 16,000. Much lower than 10 years ago, and that's with a 50 percent increase in the number of guns in circulation.

Ah, I am happy I like in the US where I can own just about whatever I wish without having to worry about the government taking away my personal property because others mis-use it.

One of these days you'll be thinking "I can't believe that at one stage I actually wrote that". Probably when you find a name carved into the back of something uncommonly expensive.


Over 30,000 dead in the states from firearms in 2003, in Ireland including all the drugs and robberies and muggings and so forth, 12.
Says something for gun control.

Just like the hundreds of thousands of Tutsi's slaughtered by Hutu's w/ machete's after the Gov't disarmed them and stood by watching?

Not much. Consider that studies show that 1.5 million crimes are stopped by the presence of a person with a gun who doesn't fire it.

And consider that 94 percent of US violent crime involves no weapon at all.

The deaths per year are down to around 16,000. Much lower than 10 years ago, and that's with a 50 percent increase in the number of guns in circulation.

So guns don't kill people, people kill people etc. I'd still like to know why 16,000 people got killed in a year. Then there is the other 94% of violent weapon-free crime? What's with all the violent crimes?!

One of these days you'll be thinking "I can't believe that at one stage I actually wrote that". Probably when you find a name carved into the back of something uncommonly expensive.

Over 30,000 dead in the states from firearms in 2003, in Ireland including all the drugs and robberies and muggings and so forth, 12.
Says something for gun control.

Hmm. Yes, it says that Ireland is much safer after the IRA waged war for a few generations with the Imperials and came to a respectable and even handed conclusion to the question of Independence.

Great way to keep the number of unemployed young men down, getting them killed in another country. Keeping most of the fighting in Northern Ireland also must have done wonders to keep the gun deaths down, it's done wonders for the US keeping the terrorists in Iraq.

Yes, I know 2003 is after the peace accord. That's hardly the point:

Ireland
* With 4 million (mostly homogenous) people living ON AN ISLAND (which is easy to patrol and had few illegals). It's not like someone can walk across a border with kilos of coke and boxes of AKs and set up shop.

* It is the size of West Virginia (read: or twice the size of Belgium which has 10 million, Ireland is underpopulated!). Economic opportunity is a huge crime deterent. Ireland's been an up an coming economic power for the past 15 years or so. Couple that with LOTS of space and a low population and you get the Canada of Europe.

* Dublin, the biggest city boasts 500,000... and 3rd boasts 50,000!
URBAN areas have the most crime. Ireland doesn't really have cities, it has a capital and some elevated towns!

The comparison is spurious.

I carry a pocket knife around in the UK all the time, and so do many of my freinds. I've never got told off or anything!

My sons, ages 6 and 8, both have Swiss Army Knives as pocketknives.

They don't use them as weapons, since they have some common sense, and have been taught to use them as tools.

Knives are tools. If someone is using them to harm others, they are already breaking the laws against assault, battery, and murder.

Although the knives are not allowed at school, the boys have them on them when they get home, and have them everyday while at play.

Next question.

you ARE joking right? Surely you're not REALLY teaching your kids that it's O.K. to break the law (by carrying knives at under 16) AND letting them have dangerous weapons? Tell me you're joking. If you're not, then I think you shouldn't have kids.

you ARE joking right? Surely you're not REALLY teaching your kids that it's O.K. to break the law (by carrying knives at under 16) AND letting them have dangerous weapons? Tell me you're joking. If you're not, then I think you shouldn't have kids.

Where does this law exist? And just for reference, swiss army knives aren't dangerous weapons, they're tools (I seriously doubt someone's going to try to assault or murder someone else with a Wenger or Victorinox blade).

you ARE joking right? Surely you're not REALLY teaching your kids that it's O.K. to break the law (by carrying knives at under 16) AND letting them have dangerous weapons? Tell me you're joking. If you're not, then I think you shouldn't have kids.
It's not against the law here in Virginia.

you ARE joking right? Surely you're not REALLY teaching your kids that it's O.K. to break the law (by carrying knives at under 16) AND letting them have dangerous weapons? Tell me you're joking. If you're not, then I think you shouldn't have kids.

So...the boy scouts carry around what? plastic scissors? :p

I have carried a pocket knife since I was 11 years old. I use the thing daily and have not ever stabbed someone or used it in a crime. The idea that everything that looks dangerous or sounds dangerous automatically makes it likely to be used in a crime is ridiculous.

And the statistics for how many people are "killed" with a gun each year do not differentiate between suicides and murders.

Guns and knives don't hurt people... Rocks do

In my nation rocks have been outlawed due to thier violent history in landslides and meteor attacks.

It's not against the law here in Virginia.

Fair enough, but why would you want kids to carry what IS a dangerous wepaon anyway? (It's a sharp blade, a shapr blade can kill, even from a cheap stanley knife)


GM, the law exists in England. Did you two people not read the "UK" bit of the post title? :P

LG, I was referring to carrying for no good reason. Sure using a knife for legit boy scout activities makes sense, but carrying one around? Or letting kids carry one around?

Fair enough, but why would you want kids to carry what IS a dangerous wepaon anyway? (It's a sharp blade, a shapr blade can kill, even from a cheap stanley knife)


In New York City and most other places, a knife may have up to 4" of edge and still be legal, so long as it is not a switchblade or stiletto.

This is waved if one is hunting, fishing, or for other certain activities.

Mind you, the NYPD gets upset when I go duck hunting in Central Park, but I suspect that's due to the blaze orange clothing and Remington shotgun... ;)

Fair enough, but why would you want kids to carry what IS a dangerous wepaon anyway? (It's a sharp blade, a shapr blade can kill, even from a cheap stanley knife)


GM, the law exists in England. Did you two people not read the "UK" bit of the post title? :P

LG, I was referring to carrying for no good reason. Sure using a knife for legit boy scout activities makes sense, but carrying one around? Or letting kids carry one around?

Yes, and I was making the comparison between the UK and US (I recently returned from a lengthy stay in London).

I can kill with a 2 foot piece of wire. I can kill with a coat hanger. I can kill with a gallon of gasoline and a lighter. I can kill with common household chemicals.

The boys are learning responsibility, and the proper context for the use of a knife. Since I am teaching them to use it as a tool, and not a weapon, I feel that they receive better instruction. The television, on the other hand, will teach them that knives are for settling personal problems through violence.

I don't intend for my children to grow up to be the type of neglected morons that shot up Columbine High School.

It used to be a joke that outlawing guns would mean the big issue then becomes knife control.

Now it's not a joke.

Outlaw knives, so we can get on to the next big issue for Britain: sticks and stones control!

It used to be a joke that outlawing guns would mean the big issue then becomes knife control.

Now it's not a joke.

Outlaw knives, so we can get on to the next big issue for Britain: sticks and stones control!

Nah. My money is on candlestick holders and wrenches!

Look out! It's Colonel Mustard! He's in the Library with Mr. Body! :D

Nah. My money is on candlestick holders and wrenches!

Look out! It's Colonel Mustard! He's in the Library with Mr. Body! :D

No, they'll outlaw wenches first.

No, they'll outlaw wenches first.

Given British dentistry skills, that may not be such a loss. Time for a holiday in Lisbon or Prague! ;)

Fair enough, but why would you want kids to carry what IS a dangerous wepaon anyway? (It's a sharp blade, a shapr blade can kill, even from a cheap stanley knife)


GM, the law exists in England. Did you two people not read the "UK" bit of the post title? :P

LG, I was referring to carrying for no good reason. Sure using a knife for legit boy scout activities makes sense, but carrying one around? Or letting kids carry one around?

You inferred that Deep Kimchi was breaking the law regarding knives and age limits, even though it clearly states his location is in Herndon, Virginia (which is in the US, and not subject to UK laws). Since I could not see YOUR location, I didn't know what law in what location you were referring to (for all I knew, your location could have been Virginia as well, and you could have been quoting a law I was unaware of). That's why I asked what I did (although looking back, I could have been more clear with my question).