Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 7:30 AM Knife UK: The rise of knife culture Ace's claim: guns make killing easier This story highlights: that knives are simpler and are quiet Ace's claim: MORE people are killed when criminals have guns This story highlights: that all humans need to have self defense tools available, that criminals will ALWAYS carry a weapon no matter what the laws, and that criminals clearly are even MORE reckless when carrying a knife because it's silent. My conclusion: criminals are going to do whatever the hell they want anyway (duh), and Ace needs to see reality and tell his member of parliament to repeal the handgun ban (I doubt ass even knows WHO his MP is). My conclusion: if a criminal wants to kill you, and you're defenseless, you're probably going to die, and if he WANTS to use a gun he can still get one in the U.K. ace. Non criminals like you (I assume) are the only ones who can't. Ace also assumes that every shot from a criminal's handgun = death when the exact opposite is true. I don't know if anyone has studied this point taking into account that "knifings" are more plentiful and harder to trace, but instances where death resulted from a knife wound vs gunshot wound, for really all practical purposes are close enough to be considered equal. I'd say at least HALF of the criminals/gang members (esp ones that make the news) who are alive have been shot and/or stabbed AND LIVED. I don't think a person can honestly and intellectually claim that gun shots ON THE WHOLE, are inherently more deadly (esp between criminals), shot for shot, stab for stab. Criminals are NOT known for their aiming ability, HOWEVER most of them have trained in some way to know where to put the knife. Hitting the heart and/or jugular vein on purpose aint so easy with a bullet, in a fight where people are moving, BUT with practice, it IS much easier to hit those with a knife (knife is bigger than a bullet, guns run out of bullets, and you can't SEE a bullet once you've pulled the trigger but you can follow a knife blade with your eye to someone's neck, esp w/practice). Sure, you don't want a knife in a gunfight, but criminals will get both if they want one no matter the laws. When the playing field is twisted by gun bans, causing people to grab knives, I think criminals at least, will be MORE likely to use force than someone with a loud gun. Since criminals almost always form gangs, I'm more worried about all of them with knives than I am with one or two with loud guns. The "pop" of a firearm causes criminals to run and witnesses can turn their heads to the noise and watch the guy running. After knifing someone, a bad guy can walk away at semi normal speed with no one noticing. Now I wouldn't GIVE criminals guns, but I would allow humans to choose their tool of self defense (like we did until just a few decades ago, it was actually REAGAN who signed cali's carry ban). Criminals will think twice if nearly everyone carried and jail for those who don't (instead of jail for pot smokers). I think law enforcement's job is made EASIER by a truly armed society (as opposed to .01% with only criminals carrying). It's easier to STOP the criminal when he's attacking you than for the cops to interview you in the hospital from the knife/gunshot wound knowing they'll never catch him (especially if he used a KNIFE). —striker | 
