Carnal Reason

Once in a while one encounters a headline expressing alarm over a statistic. Something along the lines of Prison population at an all time high, even though crime rate at new low!

England has banned private ownership of guns. Additionally, British subjects are essentially forbidden to defend themselves against criminal assault. Against all reason, violent crime is increasing. But help is on the way:

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.
Source: BBC News

I fear that banning long pointed knives will not suffice. A screwdriver is a fine stabbing tool, as are awls and chisels. What is a shovel but a tool designed to stab the ground? Clearly a general ban on pointy objects will be required.

Then there are the equally deadly blunt objects. Hammers were a weapon of choice for dispatching armored foes. Clearly they need to go, as do crowbars, heavy spanners, and other blunt instruments. Even rocks are suspect.

Once it becomes a crime to possess either pointed or blunt objects, perhaps we shall at last see Jerusalem built in England’s green and pleasant land.

Posted on May 28th, 2005 by pwyll
Filed under: law, politics