🚀 go-pugleaf

Zachery originally wrote:-

> I think so, yes. Given what else I have heard (and I am completely
> willing to retract the following when I learn it is false) that the
> British Government has gone so far as to outlaw knives (even
> pocket-knives?) due to the increase of knife assaults,

This is wholly incorrect. According to my friends living in the UK, there
was an amnesty called where those with illegal knives (this category includes knives
with blades over a certain length, 5 inches or thereabouts I believe, and machetes)
could hand them in without suffering prosecution. 
This category does NOT include pocketknives. This amnesty was called in response to
the murder of a school teacher by a child. I have no idea where Zachery picked up
the idea that a new law was passed, but it does not take much effort to check these
things. For me, a couple of e-mails to friends in the UK; one could also check it by
accessing one of the online newspapers (e.g. "The Daily Torygraph") or by posting a
message to soc.culture.british. 

So, a quick summary for those of you thinking of sojourning in the UK, do not carry a
gun (of any description) and do not carry a knife with a blade of (to be on the safe
side) over about 4 inches long; a pocketknife is perfectly acceptable.

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                             | 
Adrian Burd,                 | Quidquid Latinae dictum sit,
Dpt. of Oceanography,        | altum videtur.
Texas A&M University,        | 
College Station ,            | 
Texas 77843                  |
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Disclaimer: I am not the official spokesperson for anyone, for which 
            organisations that use spokespersons are profoundly
            grateful.

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