Searching for an Answer
^ TOPJames Oyebola
Between 1987 and 1996 James Oyebola was a good-quality heavyweight boxer who won both the British title and an international title, although he could not quite break into world-class. He had a very good record, and at 6'9" tall was plainly an imposing figure. Although retired for some years, such a big man who had fought at such a high level would undoubtedly have known that he could look after himself. When he politely asked three men to stop smoking in a club, he can hardly have foreseen that this might lead to his death.
Unfortunately when weapons are carried no one is safe. For supposedly showing disrespect (never mind their disrespect to others in smoking in the first place when it was banned) one of them shot James Oyebola in the head with fatal consequences. Since then there have been a number of shootings including the murder of a teenage boy on a bicycle. Gun crime respects neither size nor age (nor, as recent killings of teenage girls have shown, sex).
^ TOPEscalation
Although guns are far and away the most dangerous weapons, knives are also a scourge. The prevalence of knife carrying and stabbings risks an escalation of knife carrying even among those who do not intend to be assailants, thinking that if other young people have them they have to have them. As occurred in the American Wild West regarding guns, or past centuries in this country when the carrying of swords was prevalent, routinely carrying weapons causes frequent escalation of violence. Drunken quarrels that might otherwise have led to a blow or two lead the participants into using the weapons, with potentially fatal consequences. Whilst guns are much worse because of their ability to kill at a distance, to allow repeated killing, and as shots are fired to risk any number of passers-by being killed or injured, the carrying of all weapons is unacceptable.
^ TOPDeterrence
Whilst deterrent sentences may have some impact, for those who are carrying weapons because of the fear that others might be carrying them, they are more likely to be concerned about defending themselves than worrying about any sort of sentence, particularly if they feel that the prospect of being caught is slim. The recent murder by stabbing of Kiyan Prince, a young and talented footballer whose father is the former boxer Mark Prince is a case in point. He was murdered by Hannad Hasan, 17, a Somalian refugee who was apparently desperate to impress Somali gang members. This recent story quite rightly had a high profile in the newspapers. Young Mr Prince was a sort of person who would understandably have thought that he could look after himself (and was prepared to intervene to protect others). Mr Hasan will be out of prison at about age 30, Mr Prince will never be out of the grave. In order to deter people from carrying weapons there should be a high risk of their being caught, which will not merely deter them from carrying them but make them feel that the risk is unnecessary because those who carry them are likely themselves to be caught (and hence will be less of a threat). Any culture of weapon carrying must be nipped in the bud. This would save the potential victims, and in some cases also save the potential perpetrators.
^ TOPPowers to search
The answer is plain. The police must be allowed to search for weapons, without having to have formed a basis for supposing that the individual concerned might be carrying a weapon. Whether on the street, or in clubs, or in public houses. Probably the most effective way is by use of dogs trained to find guns or knives (those who have seen such police dogs at work have always marveled at the way they can be trained to find a particular piece of hardware). This is a step I would prefer to avoid. However I would much prefer to avoid the killings. The time to seek to deal with the problem is before the weapons are used.