MSP Michael McMahon backs anti-knife campaign

Mar 17 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

MSP Michael McMahon back our “Hammer the Knife Thugs” campaign

MSP Michael McMahon this week backed the Hamilton Advertiser's “Hammer the Knife Thugs” campaign.

The Hamilton and North Bellshill MSP came into our offices on Monday to sign our petition against knife crime.

He joined with Labour Leader Iain Gray in criticising Alex Salmond and the SNP for standing in the way of victims and their families with his refusal to back the campaigns for minimum mandatory sentences for knife crime.

Mr McMahon said: “After the air gun incident in Auchinleck where young people were attacked with pellets, the First Minister agreed with the Labour Party that when air gun legislation is devolved to the Scottish Parliament we should use that power to take airguns off our streets.

“I agree that we need tough action on air guns but wonder why the SNP will not agree with Labour that we should have mandatory sentences for carrying a knife when the toll of knife crime is even greater.

“Why did the SNP vote against our proposals when we tried to bring forward that legislation?

“Labour’s knife crime petition has collected 30,000 signatures of support so why does Alex Salmond and the SNP refuse to listen to these people?”

More people were killed last year with a knife than any other weapon (44 per cent).

Last year, 7042 crimes of ‘handling an offensive weapon’ were recorded by police in Scotland.

Some 2855 people were convicted for handling an offensive weapon but 68 per cent of knife carriers did not receive a custodial sentence.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Blantyre demanding action on knife crime following the tragic death of Glasgow University student Reamonn Gormley, which shocked his community and appalled the country.

Justice of the Peace Caroline Johnstone, has even stepped down from the bench to campaign for mandatory jail sentences for knife carrying.

Mr McMahon added: “Not only is the First Minister not listening – he has legislated to send fewer knife criminals to jail, not more.

“Surely that is wrong?

“The people of Blantyre, Hamilton, Bellshill and right across Lanarkshire want knife criminals to go to jail.

“I and the Labour Party stand with them so why does the First Minister stand in their way?”

Last month, Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Tom Greatrex, Hamilton South MSP Tom McCabe, Rutherglen MSP James Kelly and Tory Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell backed our campaign calling for tougher measures to tackle knife crime and introduce mandatory sentences for carrying and using a knife.

l You can support our campaign by sending the coupon (above) to “Hammer The Knife”, Hamilton Advertiser, Press Buildings, Campbell Street, Campbell Street, Hamilton, ML3 6AX, or drop it into our offices.