Certainly, violence isn’t the only, or even the primary purpose for which one would carry a pocket knife. Pocket knives can be used for all kinds of useful and practical purposes.
Suppose one runs across somebody whose parachute is caught in a tree and they’re dangling hopelessly? Wouldn’t that person welcome someone with a pocket knife to cut him down and free him?
Suppose one needs to cut the bindings on a package, or remove a thorn or splinter out of someone’s skin? And suppose a pocket knife is the only instrument one has for doing that? These things could occur in public – like on a hiking trail for the latter example.
What if someone is attacked in the street, and their only means of defending themselves is with a pocket knife? What is this person supposed to do? Allow the attack on him- or herself to go undefended, and perhaps wind up dead or seriously injured for not being allowed to fight back effectively?
We mustn’t attach evil intentions to everyone who carries a basic, all-purpose item like that. A lot of pocket knife units also contain other practical instruments that might come in handy for every day living, such as a corkscrew or a bottle opener. It could be argued that these, too, can be used as weapons, but are we to assume that most people who carry them do so only for the purpose of hurting someone?
I live in the U.S.A., where we still have basic freedoms like that – including the freedom to defend ourselves if attacked. This is considered an inalienable right.
Speaking out publicly against certain groups of people or certain behaviors probably isn’t the best idea. On the other hand, if someone sees a parent abusing their child publicly, wouldn’t it be their duty to speak out against child abuse?
The laws are quite different in the U.K. But, common sense still needs to prevail, and circumstances vary.
