In the United Kingdom, the discussion isn’t limited to Brexit; security is also a major topic. Understandably, the country has already seen a series of deadly knife attacks, and people want a solution. An interesting contribution to the debate, as reported by The Telegraph (and here in the Czech Republic by Echo.cz), is a petition calling on the government to ban—or at least drastically restrict—the sale of kitchen knives with sharp tips.
As a company that manufactures knives, we might, paradoxically, welcome such a solution. If, on top of that, pointed knives were made completely “illegal,” it could mean a major “rearmament” of households and professional kitchens—which would certainly bring in some interesting orders.
But is such a ban really a solution to safety concerns? After all, if criminals want to get their hands on a cutting or stabbing weapon, they can easily make one themselves—even from a piece of sheet metal. And it’s simply not possible to regulate and ban the sale of absolutely everything; such a society would cease to be free.
On the other hand—a knife is indeed a dangerous tool. And yes, it is also a weapon. But it cannot cause harm on its own. It requires a person holding it in their hand and using it in such a way that the knife becomes a threat to others. But just as easily, a hammer, an ordinary stick, or a rock can become a dangerous weapon in someone’s hands.
Since we do not see the safety issue as lying with knives but with people, we support activities that seek to change our society for the better. That is also why we invest in education, culture, and youth sports clubs, and we are happy to participate in projects like “War Veteran,” which highlight true heroism and patriotism.
Our goal is to continue living in a society that is aware that knives are sharp and pointed—and where the vast majority of people handle them accordingly.