Sam Winton

Triathlete | A7579428 | 1mi 5.54 | 5k 20.16 | 10k 43.16 | 10mi 1:10.17 | HM 1:37.46 | M 3:34.07

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

#INC5_2 got off to a slow start on day 1 with different coalitions restating their longstanding and diametrically opposed viewpoints. See my Day 1 update here: https://t.co/0jaKWjM9h6

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@kfvalues @peterrhague @the_boring_dad Why not? The police should have done their job. The Sikh community asked them to and raised the alarm. No one from the community would have objected to them enforcing the law

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@DanielEllis95 @bourbondoctor The people in his office are fools. The Sikh community had called it out on multiple occasions and reported him to the police because they know that the knife he carried into the office was not a legally justified Kirpan

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd If it makes a difference, I would be fully supportive of allowing women to carry pepper spray (assuming it is regulated and safe).

If this incident had involved a Kirpan I would understand the conversation. It did not. It involved an illegal knife

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@paulabearthe2nd The banning of the Kirpan would have made zero difference to this case. Banning the carrying of knives does not impact the knife epidemic in London and would not stop this nutjob illegally carrying a knife. If it would I would support a ban without question

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@paulabearthe2nd One nutjob, obsessed with knives and daggers, illegally carrying a knife, does not change the arithmetic that you are (probably) more likely to be killed by lightning than a Kirpan, and certainly does not justify infringing on people's long held rights....

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd The name doesn't make it less dangerous. The nature of the blade does. Most Kirpans are very small, often blunt blades. Add the peaceful and respectful nature of the Sikh community and there is no measurable risk to the public. One nutjob with an illegal knife doesn't change that

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@TheStatsSaint We don't want him back

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@bradbury2010 @paulabearthe2nd You could do alot of damage with a SAK with some skill. If I believed that banning the Kirpan would keep people safe I would back a ban without question. I am not aware of a single instance where a legally carried Kirpan has been used in a crime. The knife here was not a Kirpan

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd The law in England is based on what a reasonable person would believe. Every person from the Sikh community I have seen talking about this is saying that is not a Kirpan as they would recognise one. That is the relevant reasonableness standard here

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd It is over 8 inches. That is not a normal, easily concealed Kirpan. There is no fixed standard but anyone reasonable would look at that blade and say it is too dangerous to carry

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd It was quite obviously a large and openly carried dagger. That is not lawful and at the very least should lead to him being stopped to inspect the knife. In reality, there are almost no cops on the street in the UK these days. I go months, if not weeks without seeing one

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd Yes the law banning this knife should have been enforced. I fully agree

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@AntiRasherScamp @23Sxngh @paulabearthe2nd What on earth are you on about

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd Again. This was not a Kirpan. It was not legally protected. A change in law would not stop a knife obsessed maniac who was well known to the police from carrying a dagger. Only proper enforcement by the police will do that

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd Any copper who fails to intervene when someone on the street is openly carrying a sword or large dagger is failing in their duties. Fix the training, don't infringe on peaceful people's rights

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@AntiRasherScamp @23Sxngh @paulabearthe2nd As I say the state failed massively. Many decent elements of the Muslim community tried to help. Far too many didn't. The whole situation is a disgrace. That doesn't mean that British people are second class citizens in our own country.

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd To be fair I can legally carry a folding, non locking blade up to 3 inches on the street (bigger than most Kirpans). However if I try to take it on a plan or to a school I would be arrested

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@Blake1771M @Maidinamerica3 @paulabearthe2nd The vast majority of Kirpans are concealed and small. They're no issue. It appears this man was walking around openly carrying a large dagger. I don't know why he wasn't stopped. I do know his community had reported him to the police and did what they could to raise the alarm.

[Sam Winton @Samwinton99]

@BeadieSteven @joebloggsuk1 If that has happened to you then I am sorry to hear it. It shouldn't. I generally assume most people are decent until I am proved otherwise. I am rarely proved wrong and it's a more pleasant way of living my life