Knife Amnesty fails.
Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5045744.stm
The BBC is reporting that in the knife amnesty over 10,000 knives and other weapons have been handed in to the police. The article contains a quote from “Mothers Against Murder and Aggression” (like other people want to be murdered?) where they claim that this is a good thing – after all, that's 10,000 less dangerous weapons on the street, right? Well, no.
The knives which are handed in almost certainly wouldn't have been used in crimes – people who commit crimes don't give their weapons in. This is quite probably just older people who have been lead to believe that what they already owned is actually going to kill them and make little kittens cry. It is futile. It is also worth mentioning that it doesn't seem to have done anything to stop the rate of knife murder…
No, but the people who have launched the amnesty clearly said that a knife amnesty wouldn't deal with it by itself, but it at least raises awareness. People who go out carrying knives to use on other people wouldn't hand in their knives. But the amnesty isn't really aimed at them. Its aimed at those who don't normally carry knives but are thinking of starting to for self–defence or to 'fit in with their peers' etc. I think it was based on recent surveys that showed that 15 and 16 year old boys were most likely to carry the knives (so I guess its aimed at those approaching that age, or those who are thinking about starting to carry knives who are at that age).
Its true that more has to be done to tackle the crime – and fast – but a little awareness never hurt anyone.
04 Jun 2006, 20:37
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