Reducing knife crime

In 2006, 3,613 people were convicted of carrying a knife. Nine - yes
nine - were given the maximum sentence.

It is a novel idea, but could we for once try to enforce the laws we
already have. Build new prisons if necessary, and provide a real deterrant
to using knives as weapons. We already have laws against murder, laws
against carrying weapons in public, etc, etc.
People will carry knives, because they know they will only get cautioned,
or at most a couple of months in prison.

Carrying a firearm (air gun or cartridge) carries a 5 year minimum
sentence - but when was the last time you heard of someone getting 5 years
for recklessly discharging an airgun or carrying one in a public place -
and now people are also calling the the banning of these items as well,
despite the fact that firearm offences are pretty much ignored in courts.
The only time they are ever given severe/maximum sentences are when the
offence is tied into a GBH/Murder charge.

In addition, I'm sure no criminal would ever think of possibly
getting a little dremel, or a sharpening stone and sharpening the end of
the blade to a point...

This article is typical of the culture that has pervaded modern
policy making. There is a problem, we shall ban something.

Didn't work for handguns, won't work for knives.

Please put your efforts into getting to the root cause.
Why are people carrying weapons?
Because they feel at risk.
Why?
Gangs (amongst others).
Why?
Drugs, alcohol, the police preferring to focus on "easy-to-deal-with"
crimes like speeding, rather than doing hard, long-term investigations,
that do little for targets, but have an overall positive effect on
society.

Competing interests:
User of common sense