[lit-ideas] Re: Assault Crimes


On May 31, 2006, at 10:49 AM, Judith Evans wrote:
<x-tad-bigger>But here is an older article apparently by a British Doctor deploring the situation in Britain. </x-tad-bigger>
 
<x-tad-bigger>Theodore Dalrymple.  You'll have read his piece so will know what violent crime</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>means in this context; I quote him</x-tad-bigger>
 
<x-tad-bigger>TD>Figures recently published by the United Nations show that Britons</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>TD>are now several times more likely to be the victim of every kind</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>TD>of violent crime, with the admittedly important exception of murder,</x-tad-bigger>
<x-tad-bigger>TD>than Americans. No house is safe from theft, no car, no possession whatsoever.</x-tad-bigger>


Scotland is currently experimenting with a knife amnesty, similar to gun amnesties that they've had over here--turn in your knife (or sword--the police recently seized someone's sword) no questions asked. After the amnesty period is over, anyone caught carrying a knife will be subject to greater penalties than was the case before. The Scotsman says that Blair is considering such legislation for England too.

I can't help but think they're going after the wrong part of the problem. Weapons increase the level of harm that people can do to one another, but almost anything can be used as a weapon. What the legislation does, I think, is enable police to arrest people who intend harm but haven't yet done any.

To state the obvious, what we need is something that thickens the social glue.

David Ritchie,
Portland, Oregon


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