Lily Wants Knives Out

Posted Sun 13 Jul 2008 4:36PM BST by Johnny Famethrowa in Touching The Void

Teenage knife crime is the hot topic gripping Britain's streets, the news agenda and our befuddled government in the summer of 2008. It seems there is no escape from the virtual chart run-down being presented in our hysterical media, as they look to annoint the 20th victim, or whatever grisly figure we've now hit. Well, to that number it may soon be we have another death, as music fans discover they're not even safe at Scotland's foremost rock knockabout, T In The Park, where an unamed 22-year-old man was stabbed in the early hours of Sunday.

He's said to be in a serious condition in the intensive care unit of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, after being set upon by two men in the festival campsite and sustaining multiple stab wounds. The words hell and hand cart spring to mind and it's not just Famethrowa who's troubled by this latest, almost fashionable example of youth insanity. T organiser Geoff Ellis has been left despondent by the attack but admitted today: "Unfortunately, we're seeing things like this in society today, it seems to be on the rise in general."

He continues: "The security here is really robust - we've got a big fence around the site, for example, but it'd be foolish to say that it's impossible to get illegal things (such as knives) into the site." As Gordon Brown struggles to get both feet out of his mouth and finally reboot that formidable brain on this issue, it seems we may have an unlikely pop culture icon who is prepared to step up. Last week, Lily Allen was commended by equally hapless ticking timebomb and London Mayor Boris Johnson after speaking out on the matter to fans.

The pop rocket has now released a statement, announcing plans to do pretty much the only thing musicians can in such a situation - put on a great big gig. She explained: "My thoughts are with all the families affected by these heinous crimes. We need to have a knife amnesty. And we should put on a big concert to raise awareness and stop the violence." Lily is apparently in talks with Amy Winehouse, Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, Leona Lewis, Jay-Z and Sugababes about the 'Knife Aid' show and I'm right behind her.

15 Comments | Post a Comment »

15 Comments

1. unamcconnell1976 - Mon 14 Jul 2008 8:46AM BST

wen i wz a teen i wz in2 knives, i'd a butterfly knife, a flick knife n a samori sword. i never carried em wit me tho & once my parents realised i had em they disappeared. A person who carries a knife will use it, it seems 2 be the common way these days, it's really awful. It's about time sum1 took d stand, every1 needs 2 be aware of the dangers & the consequences....

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2. screaming_queen101 - Mon 14 Jul 2008 9:40AM BST

While I don't disagree with the sentiments expressed in the first comment here, could I also make a plea that people use correct English? Comments like "every1 needs 2 be aware of the dangers" detract from the seriousness of the issue as it looks to have been written by a 4 year old on a mobile phone with only the vaguest of understandings of English. If you have a serious point to make try to express it in a way everyone can understand.
Lily Allen is right to make a stand, but is it too little too late?

3. Yahoo! Music User - Mon 14 Jul 2008 12:50PM BST

dear screaming queen. although i'm no fan of text speak i would also point out some errors in your own grammar such as double negatives.

it's just the evolution of the english language at play.

4. CHARL C - Mon 14 Jul 2008 7:37PM BST

I carry a swiss army knife, and have done since I was kid. I also carry a memory stick on it. I have a Leatherman tool as well when I go cycling. I certainly don't intend to use it in self defence either! What about these innocuous pen knives then? It's not the instrument, but the hand it's in that determines it's action. If it weren't knives it'd be screwdrivers or something else. Knee jerk reactions always give rise to more laws later, eroding personal liberty still further.

5. Phil R - Mon 14 Jul 2008 10:44PM BST

Charl C exactly expresses my own sentiments.I'm 60yrs old & have ALWAYS carried a knife of one sort or another for 43 years. A knife to me has always been a tool NOT a weapon and every day I use it several times for that purpose.I object strongly to anyone who would accuse me of "carrying an offensive weapon" The only person wounded by any of my knives was myself when I was foolish enough to be working in a freezer (-30 C) with a non lock knife.The spring loaded blade closed across my knuckle.Stabbing,this appalling social problem can only be remedied by parents taking full responsibility for their offspring and disciplining them where appropriate.Hopefully through this course of action they will in turn take ownership of their own deeds both good & bad. This in my opinion develops self esteem the most important attribute formed in chilhood & adolescence.Prosecute the parents as well as these cowardly miscreants.

6. Yahoo! Music User - Tue 15 Jul 2008 3:09PM BST

i think knifes are bang out of order

7. Rockerfella - Tue 15 Jul 2008 3:36PM BST

There is maybe one way to stem this knife culture, go back to the days of the CAT, anyone who stabs another should be sentenced to be punished in public by getting 7 strokes of the CAT for every stab wound to the deceased, and anyone caught in possession of any kind of blade should be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years with no early release.

8. CHARL C - Tue 15 Jul 2008 5:12PM BST

Rockerfella could also fund the cat training and equipment, and compensate the victim by selling tickets for the spectacle. Trouble is, how close are we getting to Iran!? Just focusing on prosecution or persecution doesn't cut it, let alone being bang out of order -- nice one, post no6!

9. andrew c - Tue 15 Jul 2008 6:40PM BST

There are three solutions: parents, parents and parents.

10. k.gotla - Tue 15 Jul 2008 9:02PM BST

I think that if the parents have no control over their children and the children want to grow up with no self respect, themselves, the government should step in and reform them in a military school that has achedemics and teaches discipline and respect. A kind of National Service but for teenagers. Most of these kids are screaming out for some sort of responsibility in one way or another. They seem to have so much energy and it is all being channeled in the wrong direction. An army obsticle course, in full kit, everyday will sort out anybody. Exercising with Team work and learning to rely on a Team and a Team relying on them as individuals will show them that every action and word is to be held accountable by them for them. The whole idea is to change what they believe is cool. Right now cool is really un-cool. The more we, as society, try to police them the more cool it is to go against the system. They need to be made part of the system. The only way to do that is to give them responsibility mainly to themselves. An enviornment that does not allow them to be territorial, or, to be territorial with a true purpose. They also have to be removed from the adult population that are a bad influence on them. Putting a teacher in jail for carrying a knife to defend him / her self is just wrong and we have to take urgent steps to make sure that this is not going to get out of control as it seems to already have.

11. thomasmacshane@btinternet.com - Wed 16 Jul 2008 5:51PM BST

ha ha screaming queen you got owned by "Yahoo! Music User".

12. lisagoldsmith@rocketmail.com - Fri 18 Jul 2008 4:58PM BST

hi i hate knives i with u i want them out

13. annabelletoal - Sat 19 Jul 2008 3:55PM BST

To Be Honest I Disagree With Kife Crime But All Of You Saying Parents Are The Solution.. Think About What Your Saying Its Not Jus Kids Or Teenagers Carrying Them.. There Are Older People.. Your Parents Couldnt Stop Their Child If The Person Is In Their 20's Or 30's... People Make Their Choices And Its Not Down To Parents All The Time.. So All You Lot Sayijg That.. Think About Whether You Always Did As Your Parents Said.. Its Ridiculous That You All Think Of Someone Else To Blame.. Knife Crime Is Out Of Control And Pointing The Finger Of Blame Is Not Going To Help Us Try To Stop It

14. lucy.herd - Sat 19 Jul 2008 4:30PM BST

i think.. well obviously kinfe crime is wrong. people carry knives around 2 protect themselves, but to the parent who KNOW and LET their children carry knives for protection- how do u know tht it iz just 4 protection?? what is te 'mysterious murders' on the telly, r frm yur own kid?? just watch em, thats alll.

15. lucy.herd - Sat 19 Jul 2008 4:33PM BST

screaming_queen101 stop been so picky who xcares how its spelt obviously u could read it so what duz it matter??? itz quicker 2 write enywayy..xx

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