Street sale of pocket knives a concern

THE sale of pocket knives in public markets and on the street should be stopped as they are being used as weapons to crimes of wounding, hold-ups and murder.
And it is time the Government, through its respective agents, step in and put in place laws to say it is illegal to sell these items, especially on the streets and markets.
And the law should say carrying a knife in public without good reason is illegal.
It is becoming too common at the police stations and court rooms to hear that the number of offenders charged with wounding, grievous bodily harm and murder using pocket knives has increased.
Offenders use pocket knives, which are usually concealed to hold someone up, and if they refuse to cooperate, the victim is stabbed and at times murdered using the knives.
One will find that a random police search on an unsuspecting group in a busy place will find some sort of offensive weapon, and most times it will be a kind of knife.
Police prosecutors over time have told the courts that the use of pocket knives in committing a crime is a growing issue and has to be looked into.
And most of the cases that went before the courts were related to marital affairs and alcohol consumption.
So how does this relate to pocket knives? Most women are appearing in court charged with wounding using pocket knives.
Women attack their husband’s mistresses or even their husbands after finding out about extramarital affairs.
It is no secret that murder weapons used are often pocket knives.
Basic laws on knives must be put in place to say it is unlawful to: sell a knife to anyone under 18.
The carrying of knives in public is forbidden or restricted by law in many countries and the same must be applied here in PNG.
Exceptions may be made for hunting knives, pocket knives, and knives used for work-related purposes (chef’s knives, etc), depending upon the laws of a given jurisdiction.
In turn, the carrying or possessing of certain type of knives perceived as deadly or offensive weapons such as automatic or switchblade knives or butterfly knives may be restricted or banned.
Even where knives may be legally carried on the person generally, this right may not extend to all places and circumstances, and knives of any description may be prohibited at schools, public buildings or courthouses, and at public events.
While we call for the sale of pocket knives to be controlled with strict laws implemented by the Government, this should also extend to other forms of knives also.
The carrying of any form of knife be it bush knife, rainbow knife, grass knife in public should be regulated.
The Government must also implement laws that would ban individuals to carry any form knives on the streets.
It is also creepy not knowing who in the crowd has a pocket knife in their possession with the wrong intention on its usage.
No one wants a pocket knife held against them for their theft of their personnel belongings be it bag, mobile phone, keys or even vehicles.