tough on what?

[expat]

Over the 20th century, the British government took the right to have a gun away from virtually everyone. They said it would make us safer. It didn't, violent crime and gun crime in particular has steadily increased. Criminals carry guns, but an application from a householder in an isolated area to keep a gun at home for protection is guaranteed to be refused.

They introduced more CCTV cameras per head than any other country in the world, to make us safer. It hasn't.

They have banned as many knives as possible, and are looking at more. A simple Swiss Army knife with the lock that Victorinox have finally employed for safety, is a prison sentence waiting for you if you carry it in the UK, even if you're going off to the mountains with a knapsack on your back. Feeling safer yet?

They have made it illegal to photograph policemen, who will soon be safer from people like the mobile phone cameraman on youtube ..... safer and safer.


Is anybody beginning to think that it is not crime that worries the government, but lack of control of the populace?

[Old Greg]

Over the 20th century, the British government took the right to have a gun away from virtually everyone. They said it would make us safer. It didn't, violent crime and gun crime in particular has steadily increased.

They introduced more CCTV cameras per head than any other country in the world, to make us safer. It hasn't.

They have banned as many knives as possible, and are looking at more. A simple Swiss Army knife with the lock that Victorinox have finally employed for safety, is a prison sentence waiting for you if you carry it in the UK, even if you're going off to the mountains with a knapsack on your back. Feeling safer yet?

They have made it illegal to photograph policemen, who will soon be safer from people like the mobile phone cameraman on youtube ..... safer and safer.


Is anybody beginning to think that it is not crime that worries the government, but lack of control of the populace?

The phrase is Law and Order. If you were the state, what would you most be worried about?

You never find that the police are too busy to put down a 'riot'.

[TriggerHippy]

This government has very strange logic for legislation.

For instance, speeding on country roads is a problem, therefore to address this, we will lower the speed limit from 60 to 50. However, as most of the accidents on country roads caused by speed were more than likely exceeding 60 in the first place, so that segment of the driving population will continue to ignore the new limit and all that's happened is a greater percent of the population is now at risk of being criminalized.
Another strange one is you have to be 21 to buy a teaspoon at Asda, because someone somewhere perhaps was stabbed with one. I guess that means it's acceptable to stab people with teaspoons if you're over 21.

Things like this are only tough on the causes of common sense ....

[HairyArsedBloke]

Over the 20th century, the British government took the right to have a gun away from virtually everyone. They said it would make us safer. It didn't, violent crime and gun crime in particular has steadily increased. Criminals carry guns, but an application from a householder in an isolated area to keep a gun at home for protection is guaranteed to be refused.

They introduced more CCTV cameras per head than any other country in the world, to make us safer. It hasn't.

They have banned as many knives as possible, and are looking at more. A simple Swiss Army knife with the lock that Victorinox have finally employed for safety, is a prison sentence waiting for you if you carry it in the UK, even if you're going off to the mountains with a knapsack on your back. Feeling safer yet?

How long have you had this desire to have a gun or a knife?

The old bill has a whole department called FTAC looking for people to lock up in mental hospitals that complain about the government and express an interest in guns and knives.

They have made it illegal to photograph policemen, who will soon be safer from people like the mobile phone cameraman on youtube ..... safer and safer.


Is anybody beginning to think that it is not crime that worries the government, but lack of control of the populace?

You are not wrong.

[Board Game Geek]

The State has never been more afraid of the People than it is now, and these measures are designed to control and quash resistance.

[BrilloPad]

Over the 20th century, the British government took the right to have a gun away from virtually everyone. They said it would make us safer. It didn't, violent crime and gun crime in particular has steadily increased.

We are safer than the USA.

[original PM]

For instance, speeding on country roads is a problem, therefore to address this, we will lower the speed limit from 60 to 50. However, as most of the accidents on country roads caused by speed were more than likely exceeding 60 in the first place, so that segment of the driving population will continue to ignore the new limit and all that's happened is a greater percent of the population is now at risk of being criminalized.

purely a box ticking exercise - the government can say they have done soemthing to try to reduce deaths on country roads - therefore moaning populace is happy - until the next set of figures are produced in which case the limit will come down again and again until we all have to drive backwards

or something

the populace will regulate itself - obviously except when set an example such aswith the MP expenses fiasco where all of the so called 'role models' trotted out the 'it was within the rules' rubbish

it is wrong to speed - you may kill yourself and others everyone knows that

however we are all adults and therefore make judgement calls rather than blindly follow rules

except for the muppets who do blindly follow rules

or something

[Menelaus]

Tough of NuLieBore, tough on the causes of NuLieBore, perhaps?

[Moscow Mule]

Is anybody beginning to think that it is not crime that worries the government, but lack of control of the populace?

I generally agree with you, but it will help your argument if you can stick to the facts:

A simple Swiss Army knife with the lock that Victorinox have finally employed for safety, is a prison sentence waiting for you if you carry it in the UK, even if you're going off to the mountains with a knapsack on your back.

If you have a genuine reason to carry that knife, then they shouldn't take it off you. Being in the countryside with a knapsack on your back is a genuine reason.

They have made it illegal to photograph policemen

For the purpose of terrorism. It's a pretty narrow definition. Nobody (AFAIK) has been arrested (let alone successfully prosecuted) under these new rules as yet.

[expat]

How long have you had this desire to have a gun or a knife?

The old bill has a whole department called FTAC looking for people to lock up in mental hospitals that complain about the government and express an interest in guns and knives.

Nice one that: same as the USSR used to do to dissidents.

We are safer than the USA.

In England and Wales, slightly over half of burglaries are "hot burglaries" i.e. there is someone at home at the time. In the USA the proportion is less than one-eigth. Spot the difference in the mind of the intruder.

If you have a genuine reason to carry that knife, then they shouldn't take it off you. Being in the countryside with a knapsack on your back is a genuine reason.

[photgraphing police ...]
For the purpose of terrorism. It's a pretty narrow definition. Nobody (AFAIK) has been arrested (let alone successfully prosecuted) under these new rules as yet.

You are right about the knife, I exaggerated, mainly because I am liable to carry it anytime, since I don't think of going camping as a separate oart of my life; but now I have to be careful. However, the Terrorism Act 2008 does make it illegal to photograph or film police constables (i.e. not PCSOs), since that might be of use in planning terrorist activities.