Should knives with points be banned?

Incidentally, my old school year 3 teacher used a Stanley knife to sharpen pencils. Was she putting us all in danger, by having one around?

More recently, I saw a year 3 teacher giving the children a lesson on knife safety, when they were using craft knives. He said “this is a k-niff, it is S-H-A-R-P”, before moving on to the more serious stuff. When these children become the felons that the right wing thinks they will, will they be repeating this line to their victims when threatening them with a knife?

But knives in public are already banned. Banning pointy ones from even being in someone's dwelling will do nothing.

I'm walking round with a massive sharp metal spike in my bag ATM. I could murder at least one ,if not two people with it.

Classic Mumsnet.
"Let's ban this, let's ban that!!!!!!!"
I say, let's ban Mumsnet.

In the story "The Marvellous Land of Oz" (sequel to the Wizard of Oz), the Emerald City was overthrown by an army composed entirely of girls, led by General Jinjur, who all objected to the "stay in the kitchen" mentality, and overcame the Scarecrow's army with knitting needles. Seriously, that is the plot of the story, it's in print for everyone to read!

The stinger: they grew up to become Mumsnetters.

Watching the TV show Cluedo in the 90s, it was interesting to see what everyday objects were chosen as the weapons. A few sillier examples were: a glass decanter stopper, a toilet chain, a battery charger, the victim's own bow tie, the tail from a dragon's costume.

That's the first thing you've said that's made me stop and think for a moment, because it's true that similar conversations to this one take place in the USA when people propose tougher gun control. NRA types all trot out the same arguments:
"But they're an essential tool."
"I've owned six guns for half a century and never killed anyone."
"What about all the existing guns, they'd still be out there."
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
"Criminals would just use something else instead."

So yes, I did think for a moment. Then I realised banning everything pointy is still a really silly idea!

Because guns serve one purpose, well two. Killing and sport.
Knives are much more widely used

Because the vast majority of people do not need to use guns in their everyday lives, whereas most, if not all of us do use sharp kitchen knives, @OonaStubbs.

But ordinary people don't need guns like they need knives, and those that do need guns (hunters etc.) can get them. So very different to knives.

Also it would not make any difference because people carrying them with the intent to use them to injure or kill are not going to be be worried about it being the against the law are they

The police are overwhelmed as it is so even if it came in it would not be enforced. Also so may people carry sharp knives for work. My dad was gardener and always had a sharp knife on him.

But they could carry:
Knitting needles (double pointed or cable knit holders are smaller and less obvious)
Screwdrivers
Chisels
Forks
Axes
Blunt knives they've sharpened (because someone carrying a knife for "protection" isn't going to care it takes a little effort)
Hammers
Craft or Stanley knives
Metal kebab skewers

People who carry knives do so for a reason. That reason can be fulfilled with another sharp object

Which is why a ban won't help

The type of people who carry knives do it primarily because they feel the need to defend themselves. They don't walk around with a knife in their pocket just in case the opportunity to stab someone presents itself. So, yes, there's every likelihood that they'd find some sort of alternative.

I mean look at it this way - y'all have outlawed guns for the most part. So instead of carrying guns, people are carrying knives. If you outlaw knives, then they will carry something else.

And the people who want to stab will get something else

You're quite dense, really about this

Pushing people in front of trains kills people. Should we make trains slower, with a more rounded front?

I think you are missing the point, just removing sharp knives wouldn’t solve the problem, they would just use some other method to harm, if someone wants to harm someone they will find a way

So the perpetrators just happen to be carrying a knife when walking down the street and the victim trips and falls onto the knife?

If are carrying a knife on you, you have the intention to harm at some point and are willing to do so, otherwise why would you be carrying one

That's not the point, though. The point is the if someone is sufficiently motivated to kill another person, lack of access to a knife does not deter them.

Also, a knife doesn't need a point to cut someone's throat. You can kill someone by slicing one of any number of arteries in their body; a point is not required.

"How to reduce the risks of shank attacks in prisons" https://www.corrections1.com/products/corrections/articles/coping-with-the-never-ending-evolution-of-inmate-weapons-ss53WsriwtSdy2CN/

I understand what you're saying and a lot of people are being deliberately facetious, par for the course on here lately.

The number of people who would go to the trouble of fashioning a shiv by shaving down a toothbrush etc and using it to stab someone is fewer than the people who will pick up a pointy knife that is there and ready made and stabbing someone with that.

Exactly. It's the ease in which they're readily available. Of course this will never be enforced because it's too sensible. Few cooking methods need a sharp pointed knife if you think about it. Professional kitchens and chefs aside obviously.

How many people need pointy knives to cook, as opposed to a sharp edged knife with a blunt end

I think this has already been addressed up thread and a lot of people have given their comments / views

The number of people who would go to the trouble of fashioning a shiv by shaving down a toothbrush

Where there is a will there’s a way, if someone wants to be violent and cause harm they will find a way, anyway besides fashioning a shiv from a toothbrush it would be much easier to just sharpen a knife but aside from that they could use other means to attack like acid etc etc

What happens with all the existing knives?
There will be more about than actual people. Millions.