Lets ban knives next
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4581871.stm
Doctors' kitchen knives ban call
Knife
Doctors say knives are too pointed
A&E doctors are calling for a ban on long pointed kitchen knives to reduce deaths from stabbing.
A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings.
They argued many assaults are committed impulsively, prompted by alcohol and drugs, and a kitchen knife often makes an all too available weapon.
The research is published in the British Medical Journal.
The researchers said there was no reason for long pointed knives to be publicly available at all.
They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen.
None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed.
The researchers said a short pointed knife may cause a substantial superficial wound if used in an assault - but is unlikely to penetrate to inner organs.
Knife wound
Kitchen knives can inflict appalling wounds
In contrast, a pointed long blade pierces the body like "cutting into a ripe melon".
The use of knives is particularly worrying amongst adolescents, say the researchers, reporting that 24% of 16-year-olds have been shown to carry weapons, primarily knives.
The study found links between easy access to domestic knives and violent assault are long established.
French laws in the 17th century decreed that the tips of table and street knives be ground smooth.
A century later, forks and blunt-ended table knives were introduced in the UK in an effort to reduce injuries during arguments in public eating houses.
The researchers say legislation to ban the sale of long pointed knives would be a key step in the fight against violent crime.
"The Home Office is looking for ways to reduce knife crime.
"We suggest that banning the sale of long pointed knives is a sensible and practical measure that would have this effect."
Government response
Home Office spokesperson said there were already extensive restrictions in place to control the sale and possession of knives.
"The law already prohibits the possession of offensive weapons in a public place, and the possession of knives in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.
"Offensive weapons are defined as any weapon designed or adapted to cause injury, or intended by the person possessing them to do so.
"An individual has to demonstrate that he had good reason to possess a knife, for example for fishing, other sporting purposes or as part of his profession (e.g. a chef) in a public place.
"The manufacture, sale and importation of 17 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons have been banned, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives."
A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "ACPO supports any move to reduce the number of knife related incidents, however, it is important to consider the practicalities of enforcing such changes."
Doctors' kitchen knives ban call
Knife
Doctors say knives are too pointed
A&E doctors are calling for a ban on long pointed kitchen knives to reduce deaths from stabbing.
A team from West Middlesex University Hospital said violent crime is on the increase - and kitchen knives are used in as many as half of all stabbings.
They argued many assaults are committed impulsively, prompted by alcohol and drugs, and a kitchen knife often makes an all too available weapon.
The research is published in the British Medical Journal.
The researchers said there was no reason for long pointed knives to be publicly available at all.
They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen.
None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed.
The researchers said a short pointed knife may cause a substantial superficial wound if used in an assault - but is unlikely to penetrate to inner organs.
Knife wound
Kitchen knives can inflict appalling wounds
In contrast, a pointed long blade pierces the body like "cutting into a ripe melon".
The use of knives is particularly worrying amongst adolescents, say the researchers, reporting that 24% of 16-year-olds have been shown to carry weapons, primarily knives.
The study found links between easy access to domestic knives and violent assault are long established.
French laws in the 17th century decreed that the tips of table and street knives be ground smooth.
A century later, forks and blunt-ended table knives were introduced in the UK in an effort to reduce injuries during arguments in public eating houses.
The researchers say legislation to ban the sale of long pointed knives would be a key step in the fight against violent crime.
"The Home Office is looking for ways to reduce knife crime.
"We suggest that banning the sale of long pointed knives is a sensible and practical measure that would have this effect."
Government response
Home Office spokesperson said there were already extensive restrictions in place to control the sale and possession of knives.
"The law already prohibits the possession of offensive weapons in a public place, and the possession of knives in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.
"Offensive weapons are defined as any weapon designed or adapted to cause injury, or intended by the person possessing them to do so.
"An individual has to demonstrate that he had good reason to possess a knife, for example for fishing, other sporting purposes or as part of his profession (e.g. a chef) in a public place.
"The manufacture, sale and importation of 17 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons have been banned, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives."
A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "ACPO supports any move to reduce the number of knife related incidents, however, it is important to consider the practicalities of enforcing such changes."
I say they do more harm than good, and if you cant create a law abiding society, the least we can do is take offensive weapons away from the law-breaking minority, the rest of us will have to suffer a little in the kitchen, but in my view thats worth it if I stand less chance of being threatened with a 10inch blade.
G
People honestly think that KITCHEN KNIVES do more harm than good?
Christ almighty, has the current "remove all possible sources of risk" culture gone this far?
If someone is having a domestic arguement and reaches the point of reaching for a weapon then they either have a damn good reason for it, or are the sort of scum that should be locked up for a very long time.
If a knife isnt to hand, then how about a screwdriver from the garage?
Most scrotes prefer to carry a screwdriver, not only is it a lethal weapon, but they can use it for B&E as well and are more likely to be able to talk their way out of a possession charge than with a knife.
How about rollin pins? Those are dangerous too...
While we are at it, there's a small axe, various hammers and a hand scythe in the garage at home. Those should all be banned, some are far more deadly than kitchen knives.
Oh and while we are at it. Rocks.
We should definitely ban rocks.
People have been bashed to death with those for millenia, its time to take a stand against this menace to society...
Christ almighty, has the current "remove all possible sources of risk" culture gone this far?
If someone is having a domestic arguement and reaches the point of reaching for a weapon then they either have a damn good reason for it, or are the sort of scum that should be locked up for a very long time.
If a knife isnt to hand, then how about a screwdriver from the garage?
Most scrotes prefer to carry a screwdriver, not only is it a lethal weapon, but they can use it for B&E as well and are more likely to be able to talk their way out of a possession charge than with a knife.
How about rollin pins? Those are dangerous too...
While we are at it, there's a small axe, various hammers and a hand scythe in the garage at home. Those should all be banned, some are far more deadly than kitchen knives.
Oh and while we are at it. Rocks.
We should definitely ban rocks.
People have been bashed to death with those for millenia, its time to take a stand against this menace to society...
I have a set of Global knives with an average cost of £70. If these were banned, who would compensate me? What do you need a long sharp knife for? You can fillet food with a shorter knife, or one with a rounded end. Apparently top chefs quizzed over this agree these knives are not needed.
You need a screwdriver to drive screws, and as it goes if I had to choose between a screwdriver and a 10 inch blade to cause harm the blade gives much better odds.
I'm sure if you speak to Doctors as the report says most of the horrific injuries that are seen are from these knives.
You can't ban everything, but these injuries are terrible. Knives are easy to buy, cheap and deadly. I think many of you would post differently after being threatened with one of these knives..
G
>> Edited by goode262 on Friday 27th May 10:34
puggit said:
In contrast, a pointed long blade pierces the body like "cutting into a ripe melon".
Precisely!
FFS! So what the f
k am I supposed to use to cut into a ripe melon? 
Isn't there another alternative which doesn't penalise the many because of the few?
Now let me see... stabbing somebody is a criminal offence. Therefore, the offender is a criminal. Hmmm, there may be something in this. 
Perhaps the CRIMINAL could be PUNISHED. Then, if the punishment was SEVERE enough it would be a DETERRANT to others. By jove, I think I've got it!
Now I'll just sit back and enjoy this melon whilst basking in the glory of having solved one of societies greatest challenges.
Anybody got a knife
>> Edited by groomi on Friday 27th May 10:37
puggit said:
Doctors say knives are too pointed
A&E doctors are calling for a ban on long pointed kitchen knives to reduce deaths from stabbing.
And..let's see
....hammers to reduce deaths from hitting, baseball balls to reduce deaths from clubbing, fists to reduce deaths from punching....anymore you'd like banned? How about getting the ones of all the children that walk around with them first, or isn't that the priority? I'm sure Gordon Ramsay could sum it up well.
Anyway, spoons can be deadly too you know.
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