Was I the only one surprised at Roger Gale's thoughts about re-introducing the death penalty for knife crime? Whilst I share his concern about the trend in modern Britain to punish us all to try and stop the criminals (ban a glass of wine on Broadstairs Beach because drunken 'yuff' run riot; increase the price of alcohol to stop under-age drinking etc) all in the vein of kick the cat because the dog has cr****d on the mat; I cannot but think his proposal was not really serious.We have a stringent penalty for carrying knives available to the police, CPS and Courts; upto 10 years jail. Quite simple really; start locking up anyone carrying a knife in the streets without a legitimate reason? The message would soon dawn on those who carry a knife 'for protection' that it is not worth it!
Anyway, here is what Roger has said on the subject:
Knife Crime - " Ban hammers and screwdrivers - or bring back capital punishment "
"Either ban hammers and screwdrivers and other carpenters` tools or bring back capital punishment as the maximum available sentence for murder" is the response from North Thanet's Tory MP, Roger Gale, to suggestions that in response to knife crime a ban upon sharp-pointed kitchen knives should be introduced.
"Are we seriously suggesting that Sabatier chef's knives should be banned "? Says the MP, who is probably one of very few MPs who have cooked in a professional kitchen.
"At home I have an oyster knife with a blade scarcely more than an inch long. It is potentially lethal. My wife Suzy and I also have a full range of kitchen cutlery and most of the knives have sharp points. Are we seriously suggesting that the fundamental implements of Western culinary art should be banned? Because if so then a panoply of carpenters and plumbers "weapons" , for example, such as hammers and screwdrivers , will have to be taken out of circulation.
I would suggest that the much more basic but practical response to the growth in armed crime is the re-introduction of capital punishment for murder"
The MP who was the last Member to seriously attempt an amendment to introduce capital punishment to a criminal justice bill, said today:
"This will inevitably lead to "bring back hanging" headlines. I have always believed that hanging is an abhorrent method of execution but I also believe that there are some crimes for which capital punishment is appropriate. Prior to the abolition of capital punishment those with criminal intent generally did not go about their business and their everyday lives "tooled up". Now they do. I appreciate that a re-introduction would mean the repeal of the Human Rights Act but I have no problem withy that whatsoever. Parliament must act in the interests of The UK and its people and not, necessarily, in compliance with European legislation"
Do you agree with, Roger?
12 comments:
The re-introduction of the death penalty would also lead to Britain's immediate exit from the EU.
I lean in favour of the death penalty though I find the more I think about it the less strongly I feel. For the very worst of them, the death penalty should be available. Im talking Shipman and other such monsters. Those whose crimes are so horrific that to put them in prison is a reprieve.
I think in this story, if one substitutes corporal punishment for capital punishment, there would be something more people could agree with.
Giving the hoodies a good hard public thrashing would be quick, cheap, keep prison numbers down and a jolly sight more painful than the slap on the wrists represented by an ASBO.
Nick, Whits
No, don't agree with the MP.
Bring it back for public servants who allow developments like Thanet Earth and China Gateway.
Roger Gale is very right wing. It is interesting to read how he voted against gay rights, and how he wants to bring back hanging. I think he is living in the past. But I will vote Conservative because David Cameron and Laura Sandys are more inclusive forward thinking people.
David Gretta-Jones
Ref 05 June 2008 17:45 anoymous
We have a world food shortage and you are against Thanet Earth because you don't like the look of it. Is your name Robert Mugabe, or are you just one of the angry-anti club?
Jean Murphy
I am all for a bit of 'birching' and a spell in the stocks in Cecil Sq to boot, Nick. A few years back a spoilt US brat found himself on the wrong side of a cane for vanadalism to cars in Singapore! I rather fancy the idea of seeing that Thanet mugger of defenceless women sitting in the stocks in Cecil Sq with a card round his kneck saying 'I mug women' with anyone passing being able to SEE the perpetrator. The scourge of anonymity given to younger offenders prevents local opinions being expressed and possibly influencing the offender to behave correctly.
sadly for some yougnsters the 'let off with a caution' or an ASBO is a rite of passage and they're proud of their deeds. That's what we need to change.
I am always totally against the death sentence - for many reasons I will give you just 1.
Ok, it seems like a waste of public money keeping alive monsters like Shipman, West, and those other pyschopathic mass murderers etc...
BUT
there are so many innocent people who have been killed through death sentence in this country in the past, and in other countries.
If the death penalty had been in place for the past 40 years countless innocent Irish people would have been killed.
Those people served long prison sentences and have now been found innocent and released.
There are others who similarly have served long sentences, later to be found not guilty - names escape me.
I think there may be other solutions - including support/better parenting and education.
Here's why I don't like the idea of Thanet Earth.
http://environmentdebate.co.uk/2008/03/06/thanet-earth-update/
06 June 2008 10:21
Total nonsense!
16.55, on reflection, Mrs Tara Plumbing has a valid point? I for one tend to agree with the underlying principle that has stood us well for a number of centuries, that it is better for guilty criminals to walk free than innocent men or women to be imprisoned unfairly. The problem with capital punishment is that it is final by its nature. To pardon some-one after wrongful judicial execution is a rather pointless exercise.
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