I am writing in response after seeing an article about this editorial on the BBC news website.
When I was first alerted to this idea, my first thought was it must be a spoof. The notion that anyone, let alone people as educated as doctors, would consider banning (types of) kitchen knives to be either justified or practicable seems incredible. Various criticisms / points to consider (in no particular order):
• Contrary to the implication of the editorial, long pointed knives are useful. I use them when preparing food. True, I could use a different design, but often a large knife with a point is simply the most effective tool for the job.
• But even if they were not “needed”, why should people not be allowed to use them if they so wish? This is (supposedly) a free country. Surely people should not have to prove a “need” in order to be “allowed” to do anything. Rather, the government should have to prove a need to ban something. And I would insist that such a ban is neither “needed”, justified, nor practical.
• If a criminal or violent person wishes to cause harm, then there are many, many “weapons” they could use. Bricks. Bottles. Baseball bats. Hammers. Chisels. Frying pans. No laws can remove all potential weapons, and violent criminals by their very nature will tend to break or circumvent laws. And even if all such “weapons” were somehow removed from the world, death or serious injury can still easily be inflicted with fists or feet. (Should the possession of steel-toe-capped boots be prohibited except for licensed builders?)
• On the other hand, kitchen knives, and any other improvised (or even genuine) weapon have no mind of their own. Without a criminal or violent person to wield them, they are harmless. They are harmless when sitting in a kitchen draw. And they are harmless when held or used by the overwhelming majority of the people. The vast majority of the owners of kitchen knives are of no danger to anyone, and will not be made any less dangerous by the removal of (some of) their knives.
• Further more, banning and removing these knives will require enforcement: if someone chooses to ignore the ban, then home searches, arrests, the potential threat (or actual use) of force by the arresting officers, fines, imprisonment, etc. All of which are harmful to the arrestee, and their family, and out of all proportion the “danger” that they pose to the public. Not to mention the waste of police and court time and resources that could be spent on pursuing those who are an actual danger to the public.
