Have Your Say? - Gun & Knife Crime11 Jun 2008

Channel 5 TV Presenter Mathew Wright suggested that love and dialogue could be key to tackling gun and knife crime. While in stark contrast politicians this month have vowed to “Stamp out this menace” referring to proposals on tough new laws being introduced to tackle knife crime. With the numbers of victims falling to violent crime on a terrifying and distressing rise many people would try almost anything to end this tragic trend but what do you think the best approach is? Should we go back to the days of an eye for an eye? Should weapon carriers face the stocks or lengthier stays at Her Majesty’s already overflowing establishments?

Undoubtedly this problem needs to be tackled with some urgency, but the wrong approach could fuel the flames even more. Is love and dialogue the answer or do we really need to get tough on the perpetrators and “stamp out” the violence?

Related links:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/06/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Knife-Crime.php

http://www.insight-security.com/facts-knife-crime-stats.htm

Jon Devo

 

Comments

Chris Boyd9 Jul 2008 12:48

There seems to an increasing blame culture in the UK and a general shift away from socialism to a more 'user pays' ideology similar to that of the US. This is fine when it comes to satellite TV subscriptions or cosmetic surgery, but not education and vital social infrastructure. Subsequently we're neglecting some sections of society.I don't believe that successive governments have had any idea how difficult and pressurised life has become for poor inner city youth and subsequently have not developed any relevant, creative, insightful solutions or provided any infrastructure to keep up with the pace of this change. The consequence is that anyone born poor with little or no access to a decent education, training or the opportunity to experience life outside of their neighbourhood is tagged as being criminally minded by society and the government alike. It would be an extraordinarily difficult task to rise above your circumstances if you were born to poor parents and never get the opportunity to experience the world beyond your deprived area. A recent quote from man living in a depressed Liverpool suburb said

Anne Bailey12 Jun 2008 18:43

It's interesting to see the different language used by the different approaches - I think it says a lot.