To be fair and completely biased :D . I feel very sad to hear that this happened. It seems you cannot turn the TV on or computer to hear something like this. One thing that is clear. Drinking and any for of weapon or thing that can be a weapon can quickly lead to a very sad ending. Even if it was an accident (which I find unlikely), he still did it and easily could have avoided it so therefore should be held for this. This is why people should be responsible in all we do. Just because it is an accident does not mean it is without effect.

Gun control has not really worked as well as one would believe in the UK and other places. Sure it has taken a huge numbers of guns up but in the end now percentage wise just makes it so more baddies have them as they are the people who by illegal goods. IN addition to this you have other weapons. Of course the proposed sword ban here in England is laughable. consider that the percent of bladed crimes in the UK the percetn with common kitchen knives is in the high 90's.... so can we outlaw the knives and stop crime?

I did read an article about the numbers of crimes perpetrated here in the UK and the relation to alcohol. It was truly eye opening. In the end the head of police in Chester made some good points, while he wants harsher punishments, raised age of drinking, etc. but he does not blame the beer, spirits or other liquor for these problems. He blames the people and their parents that this has happened. WOW! A person in high public office telling us we should be responsible! Kudo's for him! I agree. If people took their responsibilities serious in what they do these rules would be unneeded. Sadly many people are not.

RPM

Responsible people do not need laws to behave properly, irresponsible people will not obey laws anyway. So it seems as though most laws are for after-the-fact enforcement and subesequent punishment. Thus only laws dealing with behaviour, rather than the tools used, are really useful, and then only in meeting out punishment for poor behaviour.

We could probably strike 90% of the laws from the books and see no change in people's behaviour, criminal or otherwise. Guidelines are good for people to know where the limits of good behaviour are, but it seems as though it all boils down to personal responsibility, and whether one choses to behave or not.

Cheers,

Gordon