I recall that in the early days of the gun-control debate, it was common for pro-gun-rights advocates to point out that murders were often done with impact 'weapons' such as hammers and shovels. "What's next: shovel-control?" they would often ask.
Armstrong's law says that a libertarian's reductio ad absurdum is a bureaucrat's logical consequence, which sooner or later must be implemented. Britain already has enacted extensive 'knife control' laws. Cutlery companies make special Brit models of pocket knives, since the versions sold in the US and Japan are now verboten in Britain.
Now there has been a case reported in Britain where a customer at a store was asked to show ID when purchasing a teaspoon, because a teaspoon had apparently once been used to kill.
Admittedly, in this case, it appears that the clerk was in error, and the ID check was not required by law. But I think it still speaks volumes about the rabbit hole down which the Brits have gone. They now have a world in which a clerk can think an ID check for a spoon to be reasonable. It's really not a great leap from knife-control to spoon-control.
I don't make too much fun of the Brits over this. I suspect we are headed down exactly the same road, just at a slightly slower pace.
Posted by 6p01053690976c970c at May 07, 2009 03:10 AM | Email ThisAdditionally, there are many jurisdictions in the US that do ban certain weapons: stilettos, brass knuckles, switchblades, and so forth. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I definitely wouldn't be happy if everyone around me were carrying them!
Posted by: demo kid on May 7, 2009 08:53 PMIt doesn't "speak volumes" about anything.
Posted by: demo kid on May 8, 2009 12:17 AM"The shop assistant reportedly informed the customer that someone had once been murdered with a teaspoon, and therefore age identification was now required. "
Again, only because of the extreme nanny-state culture could the clerk leap to that conclusion.
The brit knife bans have gone far beyond just restricting sales to minors. The knife I carry, a small William Henry penknife that weighs under one ounce, is illegal to carry in Britain due to its locking blade.
There is a general anti-knife hysteria there. There are police-run knife 'turn-in' programs, and there was even a recent proposal to ban kitchen knives with pointed ends, the argument being that the point is not necessary for kitchen work.
Posted by: 6p01053690976c970c on May 8, 2009 03:17 AMOMG Mayor Nickels, the perfect issue for your campaign! Best of all, no pesky state laws in the way this time!
Posted by: 6p01053690976c970c on May 8, 2009 02:51 PMAnd what are the real actions that actually have been implemented by the government? A ban on kids buying knives, and tougher sentences for folks (mainly children) carrying knives.
So why don't you stop lying about this? Or do you support the rights of 15-year-olds to carry around stilettos or long-bladed knives? (Which is illegal in many US states, by the way.)
Posted by: demo kid on May 9, 2009 12:27 AMAgain, the Brits have gone far beyond age restrictions. How does your ignorance constitute a lie on my part? Try this link regarding Brit knife laws.
excerpt:
"The laws regarding knives in Great Britain are very strict and therefore it is not allowed to carry locking knives or knives with a blade over 3 inches. Spyderco decided to make a slipjoint folder especially designed for the market in the UK "
Incidentally, the function of the locking blade is to keep the blade from accidentally closing on your fingers. The lock does not make the knife more dangerous; it makes it safer. So the Brit lawmakers were as ignorant as you are.
Posted by: 6p01053690976c970c on May 9, 2009 02:01 AMOne especially 'horrifying' turn-in was a replica of a Klingon "Bat'leth" (from 'Star Trek'). See this Daily Mail link for a pic.
Posted by: 6p01053690976c970c on May 9, 2009 02:15 AM