first ban all the guns , then ban all the knives, then ban all the ???????????????

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—– Original Message —–
From: Breitkreuz, Garry – Assistant 1
To: Firearms Digest Moderator (E-mail)
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 8:45 AM
Subject: 11,000 illegal knives seized in Toronto

PUBLICATION: The Record (Waterloo Region)
DATE: 2004.03.06
SECTION: Front
PAGE: A4
SOURCE: Canadian Press
PHOTO: Photo: CANADIAN PRESS
DATELINE: TORONTO
ILLUSTRATION: Toronto Det. Const. Larry Deganis displays a crossbow as heposes with some of the nearly 11,000 illegal knives, worth about $250,000, during a news conference in Toronto yesterday. Officers, working with Canada Customs, found the weapons for sale at five businesses this week after getting a tip from the public.

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11,000 illegal knives seized in Toronto

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Police have seized about 11,000 illegal knives, worth about $250,000, that were found in Toronto’s west end.

“These knives have only one purpose,” Det. Steve Molyneaux said yesterday — that purpose being to harm people.

Officers working with Canada Customs found the weapons for sale in five businesses this week after getting a tip from the public.

The knives operate on centrifugal force, which means they can be snapped open with a flick of the wrist. Molyneaux said he thinks “a lot of people are under the misconception that just because it folds over, it’s a legitimate weapon and you can have that knife.”

He clarified that the knives seized are different from jack knives, also known as Swiss Army knives, which require the use of two hands to open them.

Police displayed their find at a news conference and demonstrated how the knives are opened. The knives were so sharp that Molyneaux nicked himself.

KNIVES FROM CANADA, ITALY, ASIA

Molyneaux said the knives were made in Canada, as well as in Pakistan, China and Italy, but he wouldn’t comment on how they may have ended up in Toronto or when they arrived.

Eight people have been charged with several offences, including trafficking prohibited weapons.

They have been released on bail.

The find came amid concerns of violence in the wake of three deadly shootings earlier this week in Toronto. The incidents left two men dead and four others injured, one of them seriously.

The violence prompted Police Chief Julian Fantino to plead again for federal reform of the Criminal Code to stiffen sentences for violent crimes.

Molyneaux acknowledged that firearms are a constant concern for police but said knives have to be considered, as well.

“We do have a lot of injuries to the public with knives. A lot of them can be concealed . . . and you would have no idea what you’re dealing with until the blade is open.”