The world is ending...

Royal actually tipped me off to the information about to be used in this post ~ thank goodness I have a "spy" over the pond! 

Summer knife amnesty announced was the headline (that I missed, darnit) this past February. 

"Carrying an offensive weapon in a public place "without lawful authority or reasonable excuse" carries a sentence of up to six months' imprisonment."

I have "lawful authority," it's called "LIVING."  I also have "reasonable excuse," it's called "stopping your sorry butt if you try to hurt me."  OR "hey you just got into a car accident where your car is about to explode and you are trapped in your seat-belt and there's no one around but me and my nice big knife." 

Anyway, now comes time for the amnesty to begin.

Amnesty aims to fight knife crime   "fight"  heh. 

"The government would "do everything we can" to stop young people "getting into a knife and gun culture that is not just appalling for its victims and the people who suffer that violence but actually does nothing for the lives of those engaged in it", he added."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's talking about, say, someone like me when he says "lives of those engaged in it."  Let me tell you something about what it DOES DO for those engaged in the "knife and gun culture" bucky:

I've gained confidence in my abilities.  I've gained self-esteem from my shooting sports days.  I had to work hard to become the good shot that I was when competing for state championships.  I learned to take care of my belongings.  I learned that I could survive if I was lost in the wilderness or the world came to an end.  I learned to be steady, to control my emotions.  I learned to be patient.  I learned to protect myself, that I COULD protect myself.  I don't have to rely on anyone to take care of me.  I learned not to make excuses.  I learned to manage my time. I learned about government and our laws.  I learned how to use my powers of observation, my common sense, and my street smarts.  I learned being aware was a huge step to staying out of trouble.  But if trouble found me anyway, I learned that I could save another human life, that I could save many human lives.  And that, my friend, is just a taste.

What do the police say?
Knife amnesty makes a point

"Key messages from the national amnesty include:
· If you carry a knife out of self-defence, you run the risk of having it turned on you.
· The national amnesty is just one tactic the Government and police are using to prevent knife crime and make our communities safer
· Every weapon handed in during the amnesty will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime
· Carrying a knife is illegal and won't be tolerated. It can land you with up to four years in prison.
· However, if you bin your knife at a police station during the amnesty, you will not be prosecuted.
· Intelligence-led enforcement operations will continue as normal during the amnesty."

Know what will make their streets safer?  ME. With a Ka-Bar.  Or, Batman.  With a Ka-Bar, of course.

Or Royal. 

Who, by the way, will STILL and ALWAYS be carrying his knife.  The Marines tease him because he's always got one or two tucked away, and they don't understand why.  I hope they never have to die to understand.  Which reminds me, case in point.  Royal Marines are not trained with knives, nor are they allowed to carry them.  MARINES! 

So, my British ladies and gents, I do hope that one day when you get into trouble, you have someone like Royal to get you out.  Heck, that's even my hope for myself (what, two knives are better than one, and 5 better than that)!! 
The correct saying is "carry a knife, save a life."

Comments

[Dad]

Well said Princess!!!

[the big mamoo]

See the previous posting about a US marine who used a knife to save his life...

[ITM]

Good Post.

Though I don't carry a knife myself (own a hunting knife though, never used it), I think this is one stupid policies yet.

Once again we are tackling the symptoms but not the source of the problem. "You don't keep fishing dead bodies out of the water, you go upstream to find out who's chucking them in".

Right now we've experienced many cases of stabbings here. But just banning one implement achieves nothing. What we need is to establish better education in the UK, and looking at the root of fear and hate.

Banning knives just says it's ok to attack people, just don't stab them.

[Kath]

Dad: aw, thanks!
Mom: right on

ITM: thanks, and I will have to say that you are one of my favourite (spelled your way!) British people :o)

Education is the key, there's no doubt about it. That's what I love about the U.S. ~ among other things! Besides my father, who taught me almost everything, I've been in more than 4 programs in my lifetime that taught me about firearms and firearm safety. I knew by the time I was old enough to know things that you never touch someone's gun unless you have permission, that you always treat a gun as if it were loaded, that you never point a firearm at ANYTHING you don't intend to shoot, and so on. It's key, it's vital.

LOVE the quote, very smart!