Europe, Boring Until it's Not

[Kath]

Or... it's about discouraging kids from carrying stabby things around in public.
shrug/

Dear Lord, please let me live long enough to see Britain outlaw "the stick"

That would be a fun day for everyone not in the UK. (Hey, that rhymes.)

[Montegriffo]

Why would that be the natural conclusion? No profit motive in our penal system.
This is aimed at de-escalating gang warfare in a few inner cities. This is not going to effect British Kath on her way to a dinner party with her favorite potato peeler just in case she has to help out.

Why not? All that would need to be done is a tighter enforcement of existing laws. You can't see the forest through the trees.

But the water is so warm.

What possible motive could the police have for arresting British Kath for carrying a potato peeler to a dinner party?
I know you lock up a lot more people than most countries but don't you think that's a little paranoid?

[DBTrek]

We lock up more people because freedom is messy and driven individuals are prone to overstep the line on occasion.

Sheep, on the other hand - you can pen them in with flimsy wooden fences, or control their movements with loud dogs.

[Okeefenokee]

If kids are now reduced to attacking each other with potato peelers I see that as going in the right direction.

That long arc of history be bending, folks.

[Fife]

We lock up more people because freedom is messy and driven individuals are prone to overstep the line on occasion.

Sheep, on the other hand - you can pen them in with flimsy wooden fences, or control their movements with loud dogs.

That's a really good take on the creeping evil of prior restraint. My compliments to the chef on that one.

[BjornP]

Sure you can wait till someone is stabbed then punish the attacker or you could try to prevent the stabbing by having fewer people carrying knives about.

And when they can't be armed with stabby-stabby potato peelers anymore, but instead have to resort to martial arts, you'll be ordering people to walk around and prevent violence and death by breaking everyone's arms and legs?

[DBTrek]

Leg and arm weights.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Especially when you consider that this could (and will eventually) be used to prosecute anyone and everyone at will?

Why would that be the natural conclusion? No profit motive in our penal system.
This is aimed at de-escalating gang warfare in a few inner cities. This is not going to effect British Kath on her way to a dinner party with her favorite potato peeler just in case she has to help out.

The motive is to control “dissidents”. As it is with every government on earth.

If the government can arrest you at any time, for no reason, the. You have no freedom.

[C-Mag]

We lock up more people because freedom is messy and driven individuals are prone to overstep the line on occasion.

Sheep, on the other hand - you can pen them in with flimsy wooden fences, or control their movements with loud dogs.

Well said, I will be stealing that.

[nmoore63]

Or... it's about discouraging kids from carrying stabby things around in public.
shrug/

Dear Lord, please let me live long enough to see Britain outlaw "the stick"

That would be a fun day for everyone not in the UK. (Hey, that rhymes.)

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