The Knives Are Out

Meaningful Moratoriums in NSW

We once saw a bumper sticker, "When chickens are outlawed, only outlaws will have chickens." This, of course, was a parody on the argument about banning guns to control or reduce murder. Fortunately in New Zealand the zealots, who would only be at peace if all guns were removed from the population (including the army), are still regarded as being on the lunatic fringe. Every so often, however, they poke their heads up above the parapets and take another shot, pardon the metaphor.

New Zealand is a land of farmers, hunters, and sportspeople. Guns are an essential part of those callings and occupations. We recall spending some time in the Hunting and Fishing Store in Taupo several years ago, chatting to a group of English tourists who came in to the store to look at the impressive collection of rifles and shotguns available for sale. They were just sightseeing--and explained that they never got to see such things in the UK. The restrictions and controls in the UK are much more draconian and stupid.

The NSW Minister of Police has recently announced another three month moratorium in that state for handing in guns, without questions asked. The politicos feel justified in taking such actions because, apparently the firearms murder rate has dropped in Australia. That is, until you read the fine print.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald while the overall rate of firearm murders had dropped, 93% of firearm murders had used unregistered and unlicensed guns. Nearly half of those who had used a gun to commit murder had prior criminal records; a third of the victims had criminal records.

The Minister of Police conceded that he did not think the criminal element would be taking advantage of the moratorium to hand in their unlicensed and illegal sawn off shotguns. So, the moratorium is more about grandstanding and political theatre. If they banned criminals, it would be far more sensible. Oh, wait--we forgot. They have been banned already.

Meanwhile, if the officials are really serious about crime and clamping down on weapons used to commit murder it is high time they took a look at knives. In New South Wales, knives long ago overtook guns as the murder weapon of choice. How about a moratorium on knives? How about regulations banning all kitchen knives, replacing them with plastic ones? If banning works, ban knives.

But why stop there? In 2006-7, six times as many people died from injuries inflicted with hands and feet than with guns. If the politicos were really serious, they should call for a moratorium on these body parts and get people to "hand" them in, as it were. If they banned hands and feet, murder rates would really fall.

It defies credulity to see politicians and national police forces failing to follow reasonable and sensible policies to prevent murder. And we all know that prevention is better than cure. Hand over those hands, boys.