Thread: UK get together!

Yay!!!

I've caught the ex on a sane day & swapped weekends with the 5yo. We're both coming to the Straightfete

Wahoo! Good to hear it Spike. Today is my birthday! My wife bought me 2 wapis

I'll be bringing them down with me in September I think.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIDNEY!!!

Guys

I wanted to raise an issue ahead of the big meet to discuss. I'm sure we've all been aware of the huge moral panic about knives and blades here in the UK. In the last fortnight it has reached hysterical proportions with politicians calling for mandatory prison sentences for anyone found to possess a knife on them in public, and today magistrates being urged to be as tough as possible and jail people if necessary. The police are arresting anyone found with a knife (arrest first, ask questions later).

I don't want to debate here whether the panic is justified or not. I guess that's an OT thread right there if someone wants to raise it!

But I think we should give some very careful consideration to how best to deal with it. After all, there's going to be a group of us travelling with hand luggage packed full of blades, using all modes of public transport, converging on one point where we get them out in the open. It will make the recent knife amnesties look like Fischer Price cutlery set!

I'm hoping to attend (not booked yet), but have already thought about transporting the blades in a locked cashbox or something, just in case. My concern isn't someone getting their hands on them, my concern is how best to explain and back up to the police the totally innocent nature of why I'm carrying a collection of deadly razors on the streets of Birmingham.

I dunno, maybe I'm making something out of nothing, but everyday I read the papers, watch the news, and there's this huge business over knives such that we seem to be fast approaching a zero tolerance situation with blades.

And we can't always rely on the local constabulary or magistrates to exercise some common sense on any given day now, can we? (Apologies in advance to any lawmakers amongst us!)

You've a very good point ... I was actually looking at lockable money box type containers on Friday with the very thoughts you've just posted ...
With all the highlighted knife crimes in the UK I believe it would be very much 'Arrest now ask questions later '


Garry

I think this is a serious issue that should be addressed by discussing it with the Police head on.

Not only this but there are a lot of loonies out there and I am sure Birmingham is no different to any other big cities.

My concern is that we only allow bone fide straight razor place members into the hall. We really don't want the mad axeman from Solihull to join us and I really don't want to be involved in showing nutters how to sharpen a blade.

I think its best to get these issues on the table up front and early.

I agree with this entirely. It is a very important point- one which I think has come up before but I do think needs investigation. I agree with English's point- the best way to approach it is to contact the Police- local Police ideally- and seek their advice. By all means tell them of the date and location of the planned meet up. They will know the best approach to take.

Originally Posted by English

My concern is that we only allow bone fide straight razor place members into the hall..

How do I prove I'm a member of SRP and what if a memberof B&B or SMF or TSD comes along to the meeting. I have never seen any other member and they have never seen me so I can't vouch for them or they me and as for members of other forums or people who have been on to the forum to have a look and have not registered yet and want to come along to have a look before making their mind up or get first hand advice first.

P.s
And I am not working that door and tell a bloke with a hand full of razors "sorry mate your not on the list you can't come in"

Just as a helpful hint, a friend of mine used to do martial arts demos (5th. dan Shotokan in the days when a black belt was only to be had in Japan!) that invoved samurai swords. He, being a responsible guy, talked it over with the old bill and this was basically their take:

If you carry a CONCEALED edged weapon you're going to get nicked. Especially - if a knife etc - can be easily opened for use (flick knife, razor etc.) Swords? oooo they had kittens. He had to wrap it, sheathed, in at least four layers of cloth then tie it in three different places with knotted cord. They figured the worst he could do then on the spur of the moment was bang someone on the head with it.

So - please guys DO NOT bring your shivs in your pen pocket or wrapped in a plastic bag. I think the idea of the small lockable cash box etc would be good though eve then I would advise having a chat with the local cops before doing anything.

Mind you, remember this: What, in all the nutter/slasher films, does said loony use? Yep, that's right, the good old 12" sabatier chef's knife - certainly not a SR. Yet I don't see armed police patrolling the Rodgers or Sabatier stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition, do you?

Anyway - keep 'em locked up en route, OK?

Look I don't want to ban anybody and I am sure everybody reading this wants to promote the use of straight razors as the way to shave.

This said, we live in a real world were we can not just do what we like without considering the consequences.

If we don't do it properly and things were to go wrong, we could actually end up having straight razors banned. In the current political climate it is naive to think otherwise.

I think I'm suggesting that the event should be ticketed.

No ticket, no entry................no arguments........bona fide attendees only to be issued with tickets.
Nobody just enters at the door on the day, because it looks interesting. Nobody comes uninvited or unannounced.

This means the cost of a UK stamp per attendee to send out a ticket.To cover this maybe a nominal entrance fee of £1 will need to be collected at the door.

If the police see no problems so be it, but I think we need to be prepared for some restrictions on our freedom to operate.