Can't be ignored

July 5th, 2010

The wheels of democracy are frustratingly slow at times.

The campaign to end knife crime has been a long one and at times hasn’t moved quick enough for the army of people who supported it.

But this week MSPs will finally get the chance to vote on laws which would ensure anyone caught carrying a knife is sent to jail.

The arguments for and against have been well aired by politicians of all stripes.

I accept that violence and knife crime are complex problems that don’t have simple solutions.

I am all for taking action on the drink culture that fuels the violence on our street.

I am all for early prevention and education as a tool to tackle knife crime, particularly among young people.

But alcohol cannot be an excuse for violence those who fail to heed the warnings about the dangers of knife crime should be locked up.

To carry and threaten someone with a dangerous weapon – no less use it – is unacceptable.

The presence of knife has escalated too many confrontations from a ‘sore face’ to a tragic death.

This has been a very divisive issue for the Scottish Parliament and the decision promises to be very tight, with just a couple of votes in it.

But I have been left in no doubt what the majority of my constituents think and I know whose side I will be on come voting time on Wednesday.

So should the public be denied the tough new laws on knife crime they have backed by the Scottish Parliament this week, I will continue to fight for this issue until these calls can’t be ignored.