Originally posted by IvanAstikov

Originally posted by jimmiec
You guys should get yourselves a copy of the Second Amendment. It affords you the right to protect yourselves against people like that. Somehow i don't think you can ban bad people or mentally ill people, which leaves you easy prey for the deranged killers among us all.

Put your self in their position and imagine someone has come up to you and your friend and asked for a copy of the magazine you sell. As you hold out the mag ready to exchange it for some money, he instead pulls out a knife and plunges it into your throat, turns to your friend and stabs them in the chest, and as you both fall to the ground losing blood rapidly, continues to slash and stab your bodies. How would having a concealed weapon have protected those two people?

If more people carried concealed weapons there would be less of these crimes because they know they might get shot. The criminals know it would be rare if not impossible to encounter a gun during a mugging so they rob without fear. Guns make really good deterrents and if needed can save your life as a last resort.

and to the "do homeless people carry guns" comment, YES some do you would be surprised! They need weapons more than the average person since you know, they sleep outside.

Originally posted by oniraug

If more people carried concealed weapons there would be less of these crimes because they know they might get shot. The criminals know it would be rare if not impossible to encounter a gun during a mugging so they rob without fear. Guns make really good deterrents and if needed can save your life as a last resort.

and to the "do homeless people carry guns" comment, YES some do you would be surprised! They need weapons more than the average person since you know, they sleep outside.

Utter balderdash. The best piece of advice I have ever received for dealing with potential trouble is, "Never walk with your head down. Hold your head high, look people in the eye if you sense trouble." That was taught to me many years ago by an expert in the field... an ex mugger. When they see someone is "switched on," they tend to pass right on by, looking for easier prey. That concealed weapon you brandish so brazenly is more likely to be used AGAINST you than to protect you.

Originally posted by PW229

Originally posted by oniraug

If more people carried concealed weapons there would be less of these crimes because they know they might get shot. The criminals know it would be rare if not impossible to encounter a gun during a mugging so they rob without fear. Guns make really good deterrents and if needed can save your life as a last resort.

and to the "do homeless people carry guns" comment, YES some do you would be surprised! They need weapons more than the average person since you know, they sleep outside.

Utter balderdash. The best piece of advice I have ever received for dealing with potential trouble is, "Never walk with your head down. Hold your head high, look people in the eye if you sense trouble." That was taught to me many years ago by an expert in the field... an ex mugger. When they see someone is "switched on," they tend to pass right on by, looking for easier prey. That concealed weapon you brandish so brazenly is more likely to be used AGAINST you than to protect you.

This. Situational awareness and having the ability to look as if you are at ease in ANY conventional environment is far more effective a deterrent than having an hidden weapon. When everyone has hidden weapons, all it does is create a far more nasty criminal for the public to worry about, ie. the one who shoots you in the head first and then takes your valuables, including your useless weapon.

The Big Issue salesmen I knew years ago weren't rebuilding their lives. They had accomodation paid for by the state, claimed benefits from the state and made a 'packet' out of selling the Big Issue. When we added it all up they were on a lot more than me and I was in a managerial post at the time working for a large company.

I certainly couldn't afford two foreign holidays a year (long haul) but they could. And yes they could afford to be alcoholics and use drugs. Not that I would want that, but I certainly couldn't afford to spend that amount of money on booze!

This is a turf war because the money selling Big Issue is actually fantastic. Technically you are supposed to be homeless, but virtually none of them are.

The one thing that could have saved these 2 unfortunate people is affordable stab and slash-proof clothing.

There has been an update on this:

Two Big Issue sellers who were stabbed to death in front of shoppers in Birmingham were probably known to their attacker, police have said.

Wayne Busst, 32, and Ian Gladwish, 31, both from Birmingham, were stabbed in Union Street at about 17:50 GMT on Friday.

So it seems this wasn't a random attack, and looks like it could be a long running feud that finally came to a head in the most tragic way.

Just goes to show how brutal and unforgiving life on the streets can be.

As has been previously said, there was virtually no way to get away with this crime. Makes you wonder how desperate you would have to be to go through with something like that.

And the guy up there claiming that big issue sellers are all playboys earning ridiculous money and taking long haul holidays or whatever, is there any need for such bollocks in this thread?

Originally posted by IvanAstikov
The one thing that could have saved these 2 unfortunate people is affordable stab and slash-proof clothing.

Because affordable to you is still going to be affordable for homeless people? And does that stab and slash-proof clothing cover your face?

Originally posted by IvanAstikov
Put your self in their position and imagine someone has come up to you and your friend and asked for a copy of the magazine you sell. As you hold out the mag ready to exchange it for some money, he instead pulls out a knife and plunges it into your throat, turns to your friend and stabs them in the chest, and as you both fall to the ground losing blood rapidly, continues to slash and stab your bodies. How would having a concealed weapon have protected those two people?

Condolences to those who knew those 2 victims.

The Homeless would not be able to get guns, even if the law allows it or they can even afford it. If they had a good life living off welfare benefits, they would not be out pushing rags at $2 a piece.

It is those whom are around who could have helped. It was a busy street in broad daylight. Why did no one bothered to stopped them? I suppose most do not want to get involve, as the assaliant was armed while they were not.

Fortunately, the murderer stopped at 2 and not at others. If so, would others have tried to stop him? I doubt so, as brits are not armed.

In Texas, if such a situation happened on a busy street, rest assured at least a warning gunshot by a concerned texan civilian would have gone off to halt such attacks. As the saying goes, when you need the police within seconds, they are often minutes away if not hours.

The homeless too, are only fellow humans, and would need more help to get off the streets, but not by being brutally slaughtered and uncared by society.

Originally posted by jasonl1983

Originally posted by IvanAstikov
The one thing that could have saved these 2 unfortunate people is affordable stab and slash-proof clothing.

Because affordable to you is still going to be affordable for homeless people? And does that stab and slash-proof clothing cover your face?

I meant affordable to even the poorest members of society. People like the homeless who are on the streets 24/7 and come into contact with all life's dregs, should be given them by the local authorities.

No, the clothing wouldn't cover your face. The point of such garb would be to slightly increase your chances, not make you invincible to knives and other bladed weapons, but, all the same, thanks for playing.