[Z]

Originally posted by andyman
But if that person has a knife they there is a chance they could use it. Many carry them due to gangs in the area, makes them feel safe... Its tricky because should the law give the same sentence to those that carry and those that use?

Absolutely not - most people can figure out if somebody is planning on using a knife, just based on a character judgment, but this is no use in a court of law. I think if it can be proven that somebody is carrying a knife with an intent to harm somebody with it, then they should be jailed; whereas if somebody is carrying a knife for protection, or because they bought one from their local supermarket (I'm pushing the boat out for ideas here) then it sounds ludicrous to send them to jail for simply having one on them.