Knife Culture

As more and more  teenagers see carrying knives as the norm it is time for the government to do something decisive no more fancy gimmicks  amnesty's or footballers telling them its uncool I mean something  practical. Drastic times call for drastic solutions. I think the time has come for national service to become a reality. Teaching discipline  instilling values and restoring pride into today's youth has to become a priority. How many more kids have to die before our leaders wake up. With  unemployment at 2.2 million as of march this year and predicted to hit  three million by years end  here is a chance to attack two problems simultaneously, crime and unemployment both would benefit from this initiative. with our armed forces caught up in two wars albeit Iraq coming to an end peacekeeping duties around the globe have stretched us to the limit. with a prison population in excess of 74000 and rising the arguments for urgent action could not be more valid. 12 years have of a labour government have seen our courts rendered toothless with paltry sentences  for even the worst of crimes.  last year 29 teenagers were knifed to death in London alone. this year already we have had 10000 arrested and 5000 knives seized nationwide and we are only midway through the year. as a parent and grandparent I fear for the future lets hope, no lets demand that the next government act.