Shiv Sena distributes knives to women for 'protection'

[spin_drift]

Mumbai: Shiv Sena today distributed knives to women in Mumbai today for "enhancing their personal security" in the backdrop of recent attacks against women.
At a function held on the birth anniversary of late Sena chief Bal Thackeray at Lalbaug in central Mumbai, Shiv Sainiks distributed Chinese retractable knives to women so that they can protect themselves.
"Mr Thackeray used to say women should prefer a Rampuri in their purse rather than a lipstick," Shiv Sena's south region "vibhag pramukh" Ajay Chaudhry said, defending the initiative.
"The government has failed to provide security to women, so we are distributing these knives to help them defend themselves," he added.
According to law, a knife below six inch blade is permitted, a Sena member said. The knives distributed today were China-made knives with three inches blade.
Asked if the Sena leadership was aware of the knives distribution programme, a senior Sena leader said the event was held at the local level.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/shiv ... ome-cities

[Vikram]

Keep this thread free of politics,folks.If tt strays from RKBA, thread gets locked.Thank you for your cooperation.

Best-
Vikram

[ak27]

Keep this thread free of politics,folks.If tt strays from RKBA, thread gets locked.Thank you for your cooperation.

Preemptive moderating at it's best! No wonder, IFG is one of the cleanest forums on the WWW.

Coming back to OP topic, I say TRAIN them first and then give them a mace, a knife or much better - a firearm.

[airgun_novice]

[SNIP]
According to law, a knife below six inch blade is permitted, a Sena member said. The knives distributed today were China-made knives with three inches blade.[SNIP]

Has it really come down to 6" limit now ? I was under the impression that the blade length has to be < 10" (usually pegged at 9" to be on the "safe side").

[brihacharan]

[SNIP]
According to law, a knife below six inch blade is permitted, a Sena member said. The knives distributed today were China-made knives with three inches blade.[SNIP]

Has it really come down to 6" limit now ? I was under the impression that the blade length has to be < 10" (usually pegged at 9" to be on the "safe side").

> Wonder where they got such huge numbers of 'blades' for distribution?
> Would be interested to know the source - may come handy sometime
Briha

[TC]

Don't want to add to politics but cant help writing this....

Look at the other side..... An ultra-rightist, religious and naturally anti-Communist party helping the Chinese economy



TC

[winnie_the_pooh]

I hope some one does not get injured if the knife accidentally closes during use.

Look at the other side..... An ultra-rightist, religious and naturally anti-Communist party helping the Chinese economy

[essdee1972]

AGN - this is Mumbai city we are talking about. You can keep knives of whatever length (upto 9"), carry only < 6"! Don't look for logic, it's a government rule.

Wonder what they mean by retractable knives? Hope it isn't switchblades! The ladies in the pic are holding something which look like miniature bowies!! That will make the knife illegal, whatever be the blade length. Plus the locks on the Chinese switchblades / folders are known to break down under normal working conditions! Moreover, as has been reiterated many times in this and other online fora, knife fighting ain't for the noob!

Not being political (as in party specific political), but this smacks of electioneering. Grab the ladies' votes.

And TC-da, that was good...... But, the left wing Soviet Union had an alliance with the ultra right wing Nazi Germany, leftist China has been helping rightist Pakistan.......talk of strange bedfellows!!

[Moin.]

Don't want to add to politics but cant help writing this....

Look at the other side..... An ultra-rightist, religious and naturally anti-Communist party helping the Chinese economy



TC

, well said TcDa.....

Regards
Moin

[xl_target]

All I can say is good for them (the women).
Whether this is pandering to the voter, trying to make the opposition look bad, or whatever, the end result is that some women have been given a tool to help defend themselves.

As far as training goes, sticking someone with a knife isn't that hard, especially if they aren't expecting it. Most people can handle knives with reasonable dexterity, many people use them daily and cutting something with a knife isn't really rocket science. So unless you're going up against a trained knife fighting expert....., any weapon you have is better than no weapon.

The more people who realize that you, and only you, are ultimately responsible for you own safety, the better.
It's gets this stupid "the Police are there to protect you" mentality out of the way.
It is physically impossible for the Police to be at every crime scene. Even if they are called as the crime is in progress, regardless of how quick their response time is, they usually get there to record the aftermath of the crime.

[James_Bond]

All I can say is good for them (the women).
Whether this is pandering to the voter, trying to make the opposition look bad, or whatever, the end result is that some women have been given a tool to help defend themselves.

As far as training goes, sticking someone with a knife isn't that hard, especially if they aren't expecting it. Most people can handle knives with reasonable dexterity, many people use them daily and cutting something with a knife isn't really rocket science. So unless you're going up against a trained knife fighting expert....., any weapon you have is better than no weapon.

The more people who realize that you, and only you, are ultimately responsible for you own safety, the better.
It's gets this stupid "the Police are there to protect you" mentality out of the way.
It is physically impossible for the Police to be at every crime scene. Even if they are called as the crime is in progress, regardless of how quick their response time is, they usually get there to record the aftermath of the crime.

Well wrote sir.

[TC]

I agree with you XL but isn't it a fact that women handle knives more frequently and more efficiently than men in normal everyday use. My wife can even chop onions with peeling knives when she cant find a chopping blade within reach. I tried it and cut my thumb. I am not cracking a joke here. But I think it is true for most women across nations because they spend more time in the kitchen and household.
I guess what they need to do is carry a couple of those knives in their handbags. If you remember the last report I edited, that's precisely what is happening in India now.

Regards

TC

[ak27]

As far as training goes, sticking someone with a knife isn't that hard, especially if they aren't expecting it. Most people can handle knives with reasonable dexterity, many people use them daily and cutting something with a knife isn't really rocket science.

Yes, sticking someone with a knife definitely is very easy. But, what about deploying the knife at the needful moment where even a split second makes a large difference. What about controlling the stress and adrenaline rush and getting out the knife from the bag by fiddling through the enormous lot of things that women carry in their handbags. This is exactly where training comes in handy. Getting the knife out and directing the thrust in the right direction under all that adrenaline rush needs a lot of mental conditioning which can only be attained through training. More so in the case of female victims who are naturally more sensitive and submissive. Yes, people deftly use knifes everyday, but does one's heart-beat accelerate and adrenaline pump-up when they chop onions or cut rope?!

any weapon you have is better than no weapon

True, but not always! A slightest delay in deployment will result in you loosing your weapon and arming the attacker with your own weapon. This disarmament is much easier against women. Try to picture this scene - A crook attacks a lady physically and the terrified victim digs into her purse for the knife. Now, will the attacker just watch her while he does that? Certainly not, he will most probably grab her hand and stop her. Even if she does manage to pull out the knife in time, there is a good chance that the knife gets grabbed following a failed attempt to stab. Hence the importance of training.

Not attempting to disrespect you sir, just providing my 2 cents worth of opinion.

[Skyman]

ak27 - You are right.In a ladies handbag there will be a beauty parlor, tanning salon and pawn shop's worth of stuff.Putting a knife in there is a BAD idea.Even for men, whipping out a folder form the pocket is difficult if jumped.

I find practicing drawing after a push up workout stimulates real conditions.Your heart is racing, your hands are numb and you are out of breath.It is difficult to control your actions.

[xl_target]

I agree with you XL but isn't it a fact that women handle knives more frequently and more efficiently than men in normal everyday use. My wife can even chop onions with peeling knives when she cant find a chopping blade within reach. I tried it and cut my thumb. I am not cracking a joke here. But I think it is true for most women across nations because they spend more time in the kitchen and household.

TC, this was exactly the point I was trying to make.

Yes, sticking someone with a knife definitely is very easy. But, what about deploying the knife at the needful moment where even a split second makes a large difference. What about controlling the stress and adrenaline rush and getting out the knife from the bag by fiddling through the enormous lot of things that women carry in their handbags. This is exactly where training comes in handy. Getting the knife out and directing the thrust in the right direction under all that adrenaline rush needs a lot of mental conditioning which can only be attained through training. More so in the case of female victims who are naturally more sensitive and submissive. Yes, people deftly use knifes everyday, but does one's heart-beat accelerate and adrenaline pump-up when they chop onions or cut rope?!

Obviously training is going to make a difference. I never said otherwise. However, familiarity with any tool makes it's use easier. Repetition can build muscle memory. Then you don't have to consciously go through the steps to use it properly.
While it is a popular theory that women are the weaker sex, and there might be quite a few whose behavior could lend credence to that theory, you really don't want to get most women pissed off at you. The married men in here will back me up on that .
Let me tell you another thing about a lot of women; even though they carry large handbags with a lot of stuff in them, it's surprising how quickly they can find what they want in there.
The old "if you have a weapon, it will only get taken away from you" is used a lot. My answer to that is "if it is so easy to take a way a weapon, I'll just take it right back". You really want to try and grab a sharp knife out of someone's hand, even a child's (when they are aware and don't want to give it up)? Bring Bandaids.
I'm not saying that everyone will be able to successfully resist an attack with just a small knife in their possesion but I still say that having any weapon is better than no weapon at all.