LETTER: Sale of knives should be banned
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr Alan T. Bates
Sir: The murder of brave headmaster Philip Lawrence ("Knife curbs to follow head's killing", 11 December) and the stabbing to death of a supermarket security guard demonstrate clearly that stronger sentences are needed to punish the carrying of knives. Yet what use will a higher maximum penalty be if judges and magistrates already impose extremely lenient sentences vastly below the legal maximum or, worse still, the police continue to caution knife-carrying teenagers?
As a 16-year-old student at a reputable public school, I was saddened but not surprised to hear of the recent murders. The carrying of offensive knives by even young teenage males is now almost the norm, in my experience, both as a symbol of strength and for "defence".
Some time ago I saw a boy waving two opened flick-knives around in a changing room before a physical education lesson. He warned me of serious consequences if I were to report the matter, but I did so anyway, expecting firm action to be taken. The school notified the local police who merely cautioned the boy, and I faced harassment at school for several weeks afterwards.
Magistrates, judges, school governors, teachers, police officers and the Government must all realise the need to take a tough stance against all acts of violence, bullying, intimidation and aggression.
Parliament must impose minimum sentences for carrying obviously offensive knives, and the sale of such knives should be banned. The police should carry out more searches, particularly of persons stopped for other matters, and all those who carry knives should be prosecuted.
Yours sincerely,
Alan T. Bates
Crawley,
West Sussex
11 December
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments