As I live (and have done for the whole of my long life) in the UK, surely I'm qualified to have an opinion of the state of affairs regarding knives and guns here? And I don't take kindly to abusive forms of address, which are unnecessary and don't add weight to anyone's argument. Michael is right, we're not talking about the criminal fraternity (about which I know more than you think, Sturgeon, as I have worked with convicted prisoners for many years and have heard everything possible, believe me!) We ARE discussing the everyday, average person in general, and I still believe that we are far, far from being a nation of fire-arm carrying thugs. God grant we always shall be.