Quote (HRH @ May 28 2006, 12:29 pm)

Carrying a blade longer than 2 inches in a public place - illegal Carrying a folding blade that "locks" into position in a public place - illegal

What blade is under 2 inches or doesn't lock into place? It wouldn't be a very useful knife.

I have a multi-tool that I carry when I bike that has a blade thats over 2 inches long in it.
And when I fish I carry a locking utility blade. Cleaning a fish requires a blade that is most definatly over 2 inches long.

Those knife laws are a tad strict. Why punish people for carrying and using what for centuries has been used as a tool? Punish the people who wrongfully use knives as weapons, not people minding their own business.

I have a carton cutter for work, and I have a pocket knife I use when im working on farm, the blade on my knife is over 2 inches.
Some hand shears that I have
Are longer than the one in that picture, but all 3 of them are in a locked box under my bed. I also have a really short pair that i use most of the time anyway, as the large ones are just too much hassle. And when im at a show I walk around with them in my back pocket when im preparing a sheep

It`s not just the fact that a person carrying these knifes could use them for assault, if someone dd smply have these things in his back pocket from finishing work, then there is nothing to stop someone from coming up behind, nabbing the said "innocent" knife, and then either turning it on the user, or using it on someone else.

This is the way crime is in our country at the moment.

Someone said the UK way is working wthout a death penalty or armed officers, and I couldn`t disagree more, just look at the crime in this country, the disrespect for the law, and the number of police assaults to see things need to change.

We just don`t know how to deal with the thugs that line the street corners etc, and it`s tearing the country apart.

The death penalty isn't a deterrent. In the US, people still kill people, even after people are executed. So I don't see how gaining a death penalty will do anything.

Quote (SteMot @ May 29 2006, 6:43 pm)

We just don`t know how to deal with the thugs that line the street corners etc, and it`s tearing the country apart.

In the past you guys knew how to deal with them.

But I dont think populating another country with your criminals is a good idea in this age.

Quote (Corridale @ May 29 2006, 9:22 am)

Quote (SteMot @ May 29 2006, 6:43 pm) We just don`t know how to deal with the thugs that line the street corners etc, and it`s tearing the country apart. In the past you guys knew how to deal with them. But I dont think populating another country with your criminals is a good idea in this age.

Droping them on a deserted island and letting them start their own country..isn't ether.

Quote (George W Carver @ May 30 2006, 1:37 am)

Quote (Corridale @ May 29 2006, 9:22 am) Quote (SteMot @ May 29 2006, 6:43 pm) We just don`t know how to deal with the thugs that line the street corners etc, and it`s tearing the country apart. In the past you guys knew how to deal with them. But I dont think populating another country with your criminals is a good idea in this age. Droping them on a deserted island and letting them start their own country..isn't ether.

It was not deserted.

Quote (Wheezle @ May 28 2006, 8:12 pm)

Yeah... I don't think anyone was saying US cops are triggerhappy lunatics were they? They don't fire a lot. They don't generally have to... which is why they generally don't have to carry them in Britain. Cops carry guns here in Australia. I just never really saw it as necessary. I'd rather it was just the specially trained armed officers taking care of an armed suspect, rather than the fresh young constable who's panicking cos he's never had to fire a shot in his life.

1.  It's called hyberbole.
2.  Just because US cops don't have to FIRE their weapons often, doesn't mean they don't use/need them at all.  That's like saying you don't need seatbelts because you rarely get in car accidents.  In any case, it's hard to compare the police forces of two countries where each society/culture is so different.
3.  Just because they don't often fire their weapon in the line of duty doesn't mean they're not well trained.  They go through extensive training/certification.

Quote (Agent007 @ May 30 2006, 12:30 am)

That's like saying you don't need seatbelts because you rarely get in car accidents.

No it isn't. You can't call in a seatbelt squad in case of an accident.

Quote

3.  Just because they don't often fire their weapon in the line of duty doesn't mean they're not well trained.  They go through extensive training/certification.

I didn't say they weren't well trained. A lot of the police constables around here are not much older than I am. They're trained, but that doesn't mean they're any different to any other guy. Like you said, they get frightened. Being trained doesn't stop these young officers from panicking and shooting someone. The dedicated armed officers are the more experienced ones, and theirs is the really extensive training.

Quote (Agent007 @ May 28 2006, 9:32 am)

You guys seem to think US cops march down the street popping jay walkers...  Most cops here will retire w/out ever having shot ANYONE.  The majority may never have even fired their weapon at someone. Like you said, our societies are really different, and unfortunately guns are a necessity for police officers here.  They just are.  Still, that doesn't mean they're all hick sheriffs who shoot first and file a report later.  Where do you think you guys' 'armed police' learned those SWAT-style techniques?  There's this show on TV here called 'Dallas SWAT.'  It's very interesting because it follows the officers not just on duty but off as well... You see that they're just regular people who are afraid to get shot themselves.  You also see how they exhaust every other option they have before they use deadly force.  On one episode, they spent over 5 hrs trying to get a guy to come out of his apartment (wanted for parole violation.  Ex-cons aren't supposed to have guns)  They used tear gas, rubber/wood 'bullets' and everything.  Eventually got the guy out safely. In short, US cops are not cowboys.

I actually saw this show just today while I was at the hospital. Good show.