Harsher Penalties For Possessing Knives
ACT New Zealand Law & Order Spokesman David Garrett today welcomed High Court Judge Justice Asher’s call for the Government to review laws on knife possession, and agreed that offenders should face tougher penalties.
"Carrying a knife without a reasonable excuse was once a serious offence that drew harsh penalties. In the softening up of the justice system that has occurred over the past 20 years the harsh penalties for knife possession have been lost. It is time for that to change," Mr Garrett said.
"People – particularly young men - will always get into conflict with one another – a situation that can be made worse by alcohol. What would normally be a case of assault can quickly become deadly when knives are involved. If individuals are unarmed the risk of serious harm reduces dramatically.
"It’s too easy for would-be offenders to pick up a knife without thinking of the consequences. We need to send a message that knife possession is not acceptable in our society and harsher penalties will do this.
"If the Government is serious in its claim of taking a tougher stance on law and order, this is an area it cannot ignore," Mr Garrett said.
ENDS
I love this country, but I
I love this country, but I am continually disappointed in how the reaction to every single problem seems to be to ban something or prohibit something. Some people abuse over-the-counter cold remedies or pain killers, and the givernment forces ordinary Kiwis to waste half a day at the quack getting aprescription for what used to be readily available. Somebody shoots somebody and the immediate cry is more gun control. Now you man Garrett is adding to the whole insanity by demanding more resritictions on knives.
The problem with these things is that they accomplish the sum-total of sod-all. The only thing such restirctions do is make life harder for the average citizen, and have no effect on crime. There is no erason why we should not carry knives. I haev carried one every day for the last 45 years, since I was a small boy. I've never stabbed anyone. Even if the laws change, I have no intention of stopping the habit of a lifetime., A knofe is a very useful tool.
Instead of worrying abotu people carrying knives, or owning firearms for that matter - why don't you deal with the problem, and slap an extra five or ten years - consecutive - on the sentence of anybody who uses a knife or a gun in the commission of a crime, and leave the rest of us alone.
There is a limit as to how much interference we should be willing to put up with in the pursuit fo this nebulous goal of 'public safety'.
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