Why carry a weapon?
TheSite.org explores the reasons why many young people feel the need to own a weapon.
Gun and knife crime has increased dramatically over the past few years. According to The National Youth Agency:
- The average age of offenders is 19;
- If you're over the age of 15 you're more likely to carry a knife;
- Although girls are carrying knives, it's more common among boys;
- One in five 16 year-old boys has admitted attacking someone and intending to seriously hurt them.
In 2006 nearly 800 young people appeared in court on gun charges, a further 2,200 were arrested and 16 teenagers were charged with gun murder. 24% of young people over the age of 16 admitted carrying a knife or other offensive weapon and 19% admitted to using one. The 2008 Mori Youth Survey asked students up to the age of 17 whether they had ever possessed and used a potentially dangerous weapon, with findings showing the most common potential weapon carried was a penknife. Other weapons that young people admitted carrying include BB guns (containing ball-bearings), flick knives, air guns and kitchen knives.
Protection or peril?
Some people carry a knife with the intention of scaring or harassing. This can be made worse through the use of drink and drugs, which are more likely to increase aggression. But there are a number of other reasons why young people choose to carry a weapon. It could be because you feel threatened and want some sort of 'protection'. On the other hand, it's increasingly becoming a part of the culture of violence that many aspire to.
"Nobody I know has ever used a knife to threaten or hurt anybody, but I used to carry a knife when I younger and so did a few of my mates," says 20 year-old James. "I started carrying one after somebody jabbed me in the guts with a screw driver - thankfully it was glancing blow, but it left a scar. I have a length of wood in my car now, simply because I have encountered road rage on a few occasions and I want to feel protected if a situation arises."
Danger
The majority of young people say they've never used a weapon, even if they have carried one, but the danger is still there. If you're carrying a knife and you get into an argument, it's more likely you're going to use it. The knife could then be taken off you and used on you instead. Just by carrying a knife you can end up in court - the maximum prison sentence for possession is four years, but if you use it and hurt someone, the penalties will be a lot worse.
Many people think it's safe to stab someone in the leg or arm. The fact is that there's no safe place on any part of the body to attack someone with a knife - it's still possible to bleed to death. Do you really want to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life worrying that you will be targeted in a revenge attack on yourself? How would you feel if your loved ones were attacked because of your mistake?
"There are other ways you can make yourself feel safe. In some ways it's almost a natural reaction to believe carrying a weapon will make you safer," says Patrick Green at Victim Support Southwark. "In fact it increases the likelihood that you'll become a victim of crime."
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