Knife Control

England has been in shock in recent weeks over the stabbing murders of two college students. Today's Independent has an article about the increasing number of knife crimes in Great Britain.

Gun-rights advocates have made the mocking comment for years that what America needs is blade control. Of course there is a significant difference between knives and guns. Unless the person with the knife is especially skilled, I have a fair chance of escaping a bad person with a knife, while a bullet can reach out and touch me before I get away.

My Father was a police officer in New York City for twenty years, and during that time he came across many armed folks he had to disarm. I have no idea what happened to the guns he may have taken away, but dozens of the knives made their way into a cardboard box in the bottom drawer of his dresser. There were switch blades and multiple blade knives and home (or cell) made shives. There were fireworks, and even a State of Connecticut "Special Investigator" badge. As a youngster I visited the box often, and can almost smell the odd combination of odors from that contraband collection.

Too late now, but how I wish I had sat down with Dad and had him tell me what he remembered about each piece.