British calls to ban kitchen knives.

[Leonel]

Well I didn't think it'd go this far but...

Doctors' kitchen knives ban call

A&E doctors are calling for a ban on long pointed kitchen knives to reduce deaths from stabbing.

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.

They consulted 10 top chefs from around the UK, and found such knives have little practical value in the kitchen.

None of the chefs felt such knives were essential, since the point of a short blade was just as useful when a sharp end was needed.

The researchers said a short pointed knife may cause a substantial superficial wound if used in an assault - but is unlikely to penetrate to inner organs.

In contrast, a pointed long blade pierces the body like "cutting into a ripe melon".

The use of knives is particularly worrying amongst adolescents, say the researchers, reporting that 24% of 16-year-olds have been shown to carry weapons, primarily knives.

The study found links between easy access to domestic knives and violent assault are long established.

French laws in the 17th century decreed that the tips of table and street knives be ground smooth.

A century later, forks and blunt-ended table knives were introduced in the UK in an effort to reduce injuries during arguments in public eating houses.

The researchers say legislation to ban the sale of long pointed knives would be a key step in the fight against violent crime.

"The Home Office is looking for ways to reduce knife crime.

"We suggest that banning the sale of long pointed knives is a sensible and practical measure that would have this effect."

Government response

Home Office spokesperson said there were already extensive restrictions in place to control the sale and possession of knives.

"The law already prohibits the possession of offensive weapons in a public place, and the possession of knives in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade not exceeding three inches.

"Offensive weapons are defined as any weapon designed or adapted to cause injury, or intended by the person possessing them to do so.

"An individual has to demonstrate that he had good reason to possess a knife, for example for fishing, other sporting purposes or as part of his profession (e.g. a chef) in a public place.

"The manufacture, sale and importation of 17 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons have been banned, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives."

A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "ACPO supports any move to reduce the number of knife related incidents, however, it is important to consider the practicalities of enforcing such changes."

Now I'm hoping that this just noise but I'm not sure of anything anymore.

 

[Ultima Dragoon]

>/run cmd "suicide"
>..........

 

[The Yankee]

There are terrorists hiding in your kitchen drawers! And hibachi steakhouses are only harboring the enemy! To arms....err....I mean....with only your arms!

Sounds pretty asinine.

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

Maybe if the police carried guns....

 

[Warman17]

Maybe if the police carried guns....

they could shoot someone after a stabbing?

 

[Wolfe Tone]

It seems to me the people most likely to stab someone aren't really interested in following the law regarding murder and assault so why would this make any difference. I suppose the next thing will be a call to ban cricket bats, hockey sticks and probably hardware stores in general.

 

[Quiet Sound]

I think I read that article the first time a couple years ago.

I suppose they will also outlaw files and grinders, so no one can sharpen their own knives.

 

[Jawz II]

If you think about it, the pointy end serves next to no use.

I'd be in favour of getting rid of them (I could get another tool for poking holes with), not because their being used as weapons (thats just silly, if they had no points, the drunk guy would grab something else, like a blunt object to use as a weapon) but to prevent accidents.

Ok so I have probably never hurt myself on the point of the knife, but since it is next to totally useless, and it will save some poor schmuck from hurting themselves, then why not?

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

Down with cheese graters!

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

Down with cheese graters!

I grated my knuckles on one once... never looked at them the same since .

 

[Tycoon101]

If you think about it, the pointy end serves next to no use.

I'd be in favour of getting rid of them (I could get another tool for poking holes with), not because their being used as weapons (thats just silly, if they had no points, the drunk guy would grab something else, like a blunt object to use as a weapon) but to prevent accidents.

Ok so I have probably never hurt myself on the point of the knife, but since it is next to totally useless, and it will save some poor schmuck from hurting themselves, then why not?

Either that is some serious sarcasm, or you have never cooked a meal on your own. Either way, that argument was pitiful.

Kitchen knives are necessary to cut food for people who eat! Newsflash! You can't slice up a quarter of beef with a butter knife! Chopping vegetables is also something that requires kitchen knives!

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

Either that is some serious sarcasm, or you have never cooked a meal on your own. Either way, that argument was pitiful.

Kitchen knives are necessary to cut food for people who eat! Newsflash! You can't slice up a quarter of beef with a butter knife! Chopping vegetables is also something that requires kitchen knives!

I think the argument is against knives with sharp tips, not sharp edges. So you would still be able to cut your steak .

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

But I do still think this is ridiculous.

 

[Tycoon101]

I think the argument is against knives with sharp tips, not sharp edges. So you would still be able to cut your steak .

But it would promote an uneven distribution of "cut" to one's steak.



It would obviously cause an adverse effect upon one's chopping skills, as shown by the above diagram.



Judging from the article, there seems to be a much greater problem with Britain if 24% of 16 year olds carry weapons. I seriously doubt that a banning of sharp-edged kitchen knives would help the populace.

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

But it would promote an uneven distribution of "cut" to one's steak.



It would obviously cause an adverse effect upon one's chopping skills, as shown by the above diagram.

I wouldn't be able to cut my "slabs" of bacon properly...

 

[azzaman333]

Next they'll ban underpants, because you can choke people with them.

 

[Jawz II]

Either that is some serious sarcasm, or you have never cooked a meal on your own. Either way, that argument was pitiful.

Kitchen knives are necessary to cut food for people who eat! Newsflash! You can't slice up a quarter of beef with a butter knife! Chopping vegetables is also something that requires kitchen knives!

Surely you cut your food as opposed to stab it?

Newsflash! I find your lack of understanding the difference between a sharp edge and a sharp point pitiful.

Don't talk to me again.

 

[Mise]

We wouldn't miss them if we never had them to begin with. If they had ALWAYS been blunt at the end, no-one would have cared.

 

[GinandTonic]

Never going to happen. This comes up every couple of years, and everyone loves their Sabatiers and Globals too much to have them messed with. Besides whatever MP proposed the bill would be demonised by chefs and thus unable to eat out.

 

[azzaman333]

<snip> Besides whatever MP proposed the bill would be demonised by chefs and thus unable to eat out.

Or stabbed by them