Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think all knives including religious ones should be banned, after what happened to Henry Nowak

210 replies

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 15:19

A more sensible thread this time. I think all carrying of knives should be banned with no religious exemptions allowed , the law should be called the Henry Nowak Bill ....in memory of the young man who lost his life

OP posts:
GeneralPeter · 04/06/2026 17:15

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/06/2026 16:09

No. Stupid kneejerk bullshit.

I disagree.

I don’t see much threat from kirpan-wielding Sikhs.

I do see a much bigger threat to public faith in (and indeed reality of) neutral justice if we maintain carve-outs to public safety laws for specific named religious groups.

Permit everyone or no-one to argue a belief-based need to carry a knife.

JBJ · 04/06/2026 17:14

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 04/06/2026 16:44

I once read an article about a woman who was (seemingly randomly) pulled over and had her car searched. She was prosecuted for carrying sharp knives in her car, along with other utensils.

The police apparently failed to notice the food van that was hitched behind the car...

Show quote history

Reading that has just made me realise I drive around with sharp knives in my vehicle all the time. It’s a small camper van and I leave cutlery etc in the cupboards, but if I ever got randomly pulled and searched, there’s many things I could use as a weapon should I be so inclined.

ScaredButUnavoidable · 04/06/2026 17:13

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:51

The point is, lets make it as difficult for them as possible as we can

Show quote history

Do you think the type of people who have it in them to kill other people actually care what the law says they can and cant do?

Murder isn’t legal - but killers still do it.

You can make knife carrying illegal - but people will still carry them if they want to.

The law enables punishments to be issued after wrong doing has occurred, but it doesn’t have the power to prevent a certain action or behaviour from occurring in the first place.

Evil people will do what they want to do regardless of the Law.

Simonjt · 04/06/2026 17:12

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 15:39

ChatGpt said a lot of sikhs agree as well,

We just need the law rolled out

No knives to be carried in public, including chefs and fencers

What about campers? How would private chefs do their job if they cannot take their equipment between home and each place of work.

19lottie82 · 04/06/2026 17:08

Credittocress · 04/06/2026 15:22

I agree. I can’t see what possible excuse people have for carrying around a blade. Ban anything over a two inch penknife that is carried habitually

Chefs? Tradespeople?

Jane379 · 04/06/2026 17:04

measuretwicecutonce · 04/06/2026 16:42

There is a big difference between carrying a knife for your job and because you believe in something. I think many people, me included, have had enough of ‘because my religion requires it’ and I can’t believe it’s in law that Sikhs can carry a weapon in this way. It’s another example of allowing peoples beliefs to encroach and take priority over standards and norms in the uk. Whilst I agree that people will still carry knives, it is done illegally and there is no confusion in law.

I also wish people would stop saying that the muslim faith and Sikh faith are peaceful. There are bad apples in every group, the difference is most of us are just going about our lives within the laws and not expecting special treatment.

The Sikh faith is peaceful.

Would you also ban circumcision and kosher slaughter? I would personally ban 1 but not 2.

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 17:01

woah, I just hashtagged that, dont know why it came out bold and big

OP posts:
Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 17:01

Wasnt part of their alleged conversation about the knife itself, as it was visbly worn on belt? My point stands

No to all Knives in public

OP posts:
ThejoyofNC · 04/06/2026 16:59

SerendipityJane · 04/06/2026 16:08

How would you know ?

How would you know if anyone was carrying a concealed knife as they go past you ?

Show quote history

The killer's knife wasn't concealed. It was worn on display on the outside of his clothing.

MaidMiriam · 04/06/2026 16:57

It should be fairly easy to make it a requirement that legitimate knives have to be transported in a way that makes it as difficult as possible for them to be grabbed and used violently. For example, not tucked straight into a belt, but encased in a lockable box or lockable sheath.

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:56

Hiddeninthetrees · 04/06/2026 16:51

Where do you stand on cake knives?

Im opposed to them being worn on one's belt, being 18 cms etc

I would not carry one even to a birthday party.. I would just use a table knife borrowed from the premises where the party was. Accidental use by a kid etc

OP posts:
Hiddeninthetrees · 04/06/2026 16:56

LoisGriffinskitchen · 04/06/2026 16:52

Well said

Show quote history

I agree.

Uricon2 · 04/06/2026 16:54

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:50

Frieda I am not saying he killed because he was sikh of course not, any more than I am saying he killed because he was of Indian origin ?!

I am saying he was presumably likely a very disturbed individual prone to violence and letting him carry around two knives made the situation worse

Show quote history

Have a look at knife crime carried out by people who are not Sikh. The prohibition on carrying them doesn't actually mean a thing if people (young men often with violent tendencies) decide to do so, and they do, in some numbers.

LoisGriffinskitchen · 04/06/2026 16:52

SerendipityJane · 04/06/2026 16:06

I'm far more scared of Farage, Robinson and their slime trail than the entire UK Sikh community. Even as I type I know our local Gurdwaras are dishing out free food to anyone who asks. Where is the arsewipe Farage and his five million ? Who are they feeding ?

Show quote history

Well said

Hiddeninthetrees · 04/06/2026 16:51

Where do you stand on cake knives?

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:51

ScaredButUnavoidable · 04/06/2026 16:50

People who feel comfortable murdering people will carry a knife whether it’s legal or not.

The point is, lets make it as difficult for them as possible as we can

OP posts:
Elleherd · 04/06/2026 16:50

caringcarer · 04/06/2026 16:41

My gardener does not carry a knife. Chefs have knives at their places of work not carrying them around the streets.

Show quote history

Many chefs no longer work in only in one commercial kitchen, and have to transport them between home and venues.. Unsurprisingly they are cased for travel.

They are often high value and a target for mugging in London, so are usually bagged up in something not high end.

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:50

friedaklein · 04/06/2026 16:47

Sure. Your one religion idea is full of empathy.

Personally I think my DC have a higher chance of being killed by a knife wielding teen than by a Sikh wielding a kirpan.

So much wide eyed faux disengousness on this thread.

Show quote history

Frieda I am not saying he killed because he was sikh of course not, any more than I am saying he killed because he was of Indian origin ?!

I am saying he was presumably likely a very disturbed individual prone to violence and letting him carry around two knives made the situation worse

OP posts:
ScaredButUnavoidable · 04/06/2026 16:50

People who feel comfortable murdering people will carry a knife whether it’s legal or not.

GeneralPeter · 04/06/2026 16:49

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 15:39

ChatGpt said a lot of sikhs agree as well,

We just need the law rolled out

No knives to be carried in public, including chefs and fencers

Oh, then I change my vote.

I thought you were arguing for the removal specified religious exemptions, not for a blanket ban. (How would you bring a knife home from the shop, for example?)

Keep the ‘without good reason’ limb and let the courts sort out whether particular reasons (including religious ones) are good ones or not via case law.

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:48

measuretwicecutonce · 04/06/2026 16:42

There is a big difference between carrying a knife for your job and because you believe in something. I think many people, me included, have had enough of ‘because my religion requires it’ and I can’t believe it’s in law that Sikhs can carry a weapon in this way. It’s another example of allowing peoples beliefs to encroach and take priority over standards and norms in the uk. Whilst I agree that people will still carry knives, it is done illegally and there is no confusion in law.

I also wish people would stop saying that the muslim faith and Sikh faith are peaceful. There are bad apples in every group, the difference is most of us are just going about our lives within the laws and not expecting special treatment.

Yes and also Yes to the poster who said a religion requiring something is not a good enough reason on its own, regardless if its the majority religion or a minority one

A lot of the rules were written in archaic times, and we should be able to use discretion on what brings us closer to God and what makes sense in these times and with Gen Z generation

Anyway I rest my case

OP posts:
friedaklein · 04/06/2026 16:47

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:43

Being a concerned parent and an empathetic citizen is not a bad agenda to have?

Show quote history

Sure. Your one religion idea is full of empathy.

Personally I think my DC have a higher chance of being killed by a knife wielding teen than by a Sikh wielding a kirpan.

So much wide eyed faux disengousness on this thread.

SerendipityJane · 04/06/2026 16:45

radioX · 04/06/2026 16:31

I don’t think religion is a good reason.

Show quote history

And yet we have circumcision ....

Original poster
BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:44

BritIndianGal · 04/06/2026 16:43

Being a concerned parent and an empathetic citizen is not a bad agenda to have?

Show quote history

Would it be better if I came on here to say I was unaffected, or best to not post at all ? What would be right in your eyes

OP posts:
AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 04/06/2026 16:44

caringcarer · 04/06/2026 16:41

My gardener does not carry a knife. Chefs have knives at their places of work not carrying them around the streets.

Show quote history

I once read an article about a woman who was (seemingly randomly) pulled over and had her car searched. She was prosecuted for carrying sharp knives in her car, along with other utensils.

The police apparently failed to notice the food van that was hitched behind the car...