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[pogona]

Somehow I can't seem to get my head around the banning of  what must be one of the simplest, yet most useful single invention that we Hominids have ever come up with. Get something sharp, attach a handle. Australopithicines were making knives 2.5 million years ago, and now we want to enforce making the carrying of one a criminal offence?
I've been

Comments

[sea_cucumber]

I was wondering about this. I am going to a game that involves camping this weekend, and have a great big 6 inch lock-knife that I use for cutting all sorts of things from tent ropes or cable ties to opening packets of cheese. It is useful and good when camping.

Now if I get stopped en-route, will I be arrested for carrying a weapon of eeeevil badness?

Or perhaps I should be worried about carrying replica flintlock pistols and swords made of latex? :)

[pogona]

Your defences are two-fold, and as I understand it will, under current legislation, be sufficient.
1) Most important, pack it in a bag rather than put it in a pocket, at least until you get to where you are going. If it is not easily to hand then it is seen as "being transported" rather than ready for use.
2) If you get stopped, point out that it is a necessary tool for the event you are going to, ie to cut ropes, and branches. (They may decide you can get away with something smaller for opening cheese....

If you stick to those two rules you can transport a sword if necessary. Although now it can only, legally, be a straight sword... (*feels another grumble coming on*)

[nicnac]

Or perhaps I should be worried about carrying replica flintlock pistols and swords made of latex? :)

Given that someone was prevented from boarding a plane because they had the picture of a gun on their Tshirt, yup!

[iddewes]

As with most things, this is the result of stupid people's actions. Not sensible ones like you.

[resident_gnome]

1. Not sure about Australopithicines making knives? Using tools yes. Importantly for this debate Australopithicines did not carry tools.

2. Carrying knives in backpacks for use on campsites should be fine.

3. Whilst it may seem harsh I think strong action is called for recent killings and woundings call for action, ask the parents of the victims.

4. Crumbs me backing a right wing political idea ???????????????

[pogona]

Ok. Australopithicines making knives was pushing things a little, but only a little. They did make handheld sharp-edged stone tools for cutting (I hate to quote Wiki as a source but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olduwan for those who are interested) and what is a knife if it's not a handheld sharp-edged tool for cutting. All we've done in 2.5 million years is refined the materials and the shape a bit. Ok, a lot

[jp_alone]

hey it's crazy.

The place I work banned the desktop engineers from carrying gerber and leatherman multitools on their belts because of the 2-3" blade that is apparently classed as a conceled weapon.

and yes the place I work is very well versed in the laws regarding well evrything in the country (or at least I bloody well hope they are)