UK Scouting Assn. Bans Pen Knives — Triumph of the Nanny State
Sorry folks, this is not a joke (or late April Fools’ story). The Boy Scouts Association for the United Kingdom has issued a “guidance” directive telling Boy Scouts not to bring knives to camping events. Prior to this ruling British Boy Scouts were allowed to carry penknives with blades of less than 3 inches.
A Scouts spokesman defended the new policy, saying: ‘We believe that young people need more places to go after school and at weekends, where they can experience adventure without the threat of violence or bullying and the need to carry weapons. Scouting helps to prepare young people with valuable life skills, while keeping them safe by not carrying knives.’
Hmmm, what will the UK Scout Association ban next? Pointed sticks? Ropes? Heck, those neckerchiefs could be pretty dangerous too — better get rid of them. Lord Baden-Powell is no doubt rolling over in his grave. One troop Leader from Kent, England wondered: “Whatever happened to the first Scout Law: a Scout is to be trusted?” Even the British Guardian website questioned the logic of the knife ban: “Scouts are so closely associated with pocket knives that the term Boy Scout knife is a synonym for penknife.”
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Tags: Boy Scouts, Britain, Knife, UK
I’d love to hear Baden Powell launch a formal protest against this insanity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Baden-Powell,_1st_Baron_Baden-Powell
Scout knives are not for self defense, they are a tool for use in camping and rope work, just like a seaman’s dirk and knife. I am appauled that this type of ban is occurring. What is the world coming to?
Bladesafe (NZ) triumphs again. The world WILL be a safer place !
CF
Because this will help the individual that intends to carry a “penknife” with intent to do harm not to carry or do harm? Fools rush in. Yet another attack on Freedom from he fools that manage to get in a place of leadership. Leaders need followers stand up to them when they don’t lead but force from their position.
Knives aren’t actually banned. The media just blew it out of proportion.
More info here: http://www.scouts.org.uk/news/223/scouting-refutes-knife-ban-claims
Adam,
I followed that link and also read a further reply from a Scout leader. This is not a “retraction” of the “Guidance” Directive issued in April 2009 telling Scouts to leave their knives at home. There is no disavowal of the directive that scouts do not carry knives on camping trips. You are correct that UK Scouting does not have an absolute ban but the UK Scout Assn. has not disavowed it’s recommendations. Reading the Scouting Association’s “damage control” responses, I still think the media reports are essentially correct and that this IS a NEW policy intended to diminish scout knife use substantially. In the article you cite, Scouting Reps said: “The Scout Association does not condone young people carrying knifes on their person as a matter of course, unless there is a specific need for one.” That’s a far cry from what Baden-Powell said in the original Scouting manuals.
The first problem is people viewing the scout knife as a weapon and not a tool. The 2nd problem is blaming the availability of tools for a crime instead of concentrating on the root cause, people and their interaction or lack of it with other people.