When Knives Are Outlawed…
Ah, for the good old days, when only us paranoid NRA nuts argued that gun control would eventually lead to kitchen knife control. Double-hat tip: Clayton Cramer and Michael Williams. The latter hat-tippee, who will soon be known as Mr. Spork, throws in this little gem:
Apparently these days the sun never rises on the British Empire.
Indeed.
UPDATE: Pigilito points out in a comment that the “ban knives, no, really!” movement is a bit older than I thought.
UPDATE x2: In another comment, Uncle takes a well-deserved jab at me for generally mocking slippery slope arguments in other contexts. In the case of the U.S., the slope may have slipped in the other direction, with “assault knives” being banned as early as 1958. H/t: David Kopel.
May 27th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
heh. remember, there is no slippery slope.
May 27th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Of course, what do the British need knives for anyways? It’s not they’re known for their cooking.
May 27th, 2005 at 12:52 pm
This isn’t the first time this claptrap appeared in the BMJ. Here is a link to a letter to the editor from three British psychiatrists advocating the same thing.
Sorry about the length of the link. [Not to worry - that's one of the reasons I allow HTML in comments; no matter how long they may be, they don't have to look long. FWIW, I did find a shorter URL, which eliminates highlighting. I added that link to the original entry, while leaving yours intact. -X]
May 27th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
When I lived in Britain, the kitchen knives were locked up in the department store and they would not sell them to you without proof you were over 18. I can’t say I blame them; In the land of the blind, the man with a big-ass cleaver is king.
May 27th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
At least barbeque forks are still legal.
May 27th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
What’s next? … cricket bats?! :-O
May 27th, 2005 at 9:08 pm
I especially liked this: ‘Scotland’s most respected pathologist, Professor Anthony Busuttil, said: “All the statistics show that for the last 15 years, victims of stabbings, whether fatal or seriously injured, are caused by kitchen knives such as steak knives rather than knives bought specially for the purpose.” ‘
So that’s it! Those frugal Scots are not buying knives made specifically for stabbing people, they’re just using whatever is at hand! For shame, you cheapskates!
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=579102005
May 28th, 2005 at 2:10 am
When Knives Are Outlawed”¦
[Source: damnum absque injuria] quoted: A Win-Wine-Whine (Or Not?) Filed under: Law Politics Wine by Xrlq @ 12:32 pm I just bet Paul Deignan a bottle of w(h)ine that last week’s “compromise” capitulation will backfire. If the De…
May 29th, 2005 at 3:36 am
John–That’s what we call “dual-use technology”.
PS “Swingin’” and “Money in the Bank”? Sheer genius.
September 17th, 2005 at 7:15 pm
In australia they taken away crocadile dundees big knife whats a guy to do without self defense?