UK Plans Knife Control Legislation

To combat an escalating problem of knife attacks in British schools, the government has announced planned legislation to increase the minimum age for buying knives from 16 to 18 and to offer an amnesty program for people to turn in their knives. The Schools Minister, Stephen Twigg, stated that the violent crime reduction bill, a major Labor Party agenda item, would give police and school officials more powers to confront knife crime among young people. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), both in conference this week, fully support any measure to deal with school violence.

The government's proposed action to raise the age for purchasing knives is probably not going to accomplish anything positive. Apparently, the decision-makers are unaware that convicts, throughout the world, are not allowed to buy knives at all yet they don't seem to have a problem getting their hands on sharp and pointy weapons. With regard to the amnesty program, it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense because it's presently not clear what the requirements are to own a knife.

Nevertheless, national knife control will likely be ineffective.

Companion post at Our Life.