[lit-ideas] Re: Assault Crimes

I think the amnesties are OK David but I agree something needs to be done
about that part of Scotland.  Aren't poverty, unemployment, and
"social marginalization" relevant here? (and booze, yes... Cardiff has the
same problem but remains a very safe city.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Ritchie 
  To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 7:06 PM
  Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Assault Crimes



  On May 31, 2006, at 10:49 AM, Judith Evans wrote:

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



  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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