RENEWED CALLS FOR KNIFE CONTROLS IN WAKE OF DEADLY STABBINGS

Sarah Braidie demands action, Obama appoints Joe Biden to head task force on knife violence

By Pamela Putz

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Monday at least two men were stabbed in Hollywood, one fatally. And previously on June 18, a 23-year-old woman was also stabbed to death in Hollywood.

Monday night in North Hollywood, Mario Alejandro Martinez, 21, chased his 20-year-old sister, Raquel Martinez, down a street and stabbed her to death with a kitchen knife when he caught up to her.

Wednesday morning in Spring, Texas, Luis Alonzo Alfaro,17, stabbed 17-year-old Joshua Broussard to death during a fight between students at Spring High School. Three other students were hospitalized with stab wounds.

In the wake of these latest stabbings, the Braidie Campaign to Stop Knife Violence, came out with a strong statement calling for strict knife controls. Sarah Braidie, whose husband Jim was critically wounded in the nation’s capitol on March 30, 1981 when he was stabbed by a mentally deranged John Kinkly, Jr., promised renewed efforts to to keep knives out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people. Braidie blamed Republicans in Congress and lobbying by the National Cutlery Association (NCA) for blocking her previous calls to enact strict knife control legislation.

Wayne LePew, executive director of the NCA, immediately shot back at Braidie, complaining that she has been trying to take knives away from Americans for 30 years. “If you outlaw knives, only outlaws will have them,” declared LePew. "The NCA will continue to fight for the right of law abiding citizens to buy and own knives, and we're not going to allow the Braidie bunch or anyone else to take that right away from us."

Wayne Brock, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), also slammed Sarah Braidie’s call for strict knife controls. “As everyone knows, our scouts are extremely proud of owning an official Boy Scout Swiss Army Knife, and we are not about to allow anyone to take those cherished knives away from them,” said Brock. BSA president Wayne Perry added, “Our boys will give up their scout knives only when you pry them from their cold, dead hands.”

With the Vice President standing by his side Thursday, President Obama strongly backed Sarah Braidie’s call for knife controls during an impromptu press conference on the stabbings. “We’ve seen far too many fatal stabbings like those which have just occurred in California and Texas,” said Obama. “We can’t stand idly by while the carnage continues. I will use all the powers of this office to progress the efforts to reduce knife violence, and I won’t be able to do it by myself. I’ve appointed Joe [Biden] to head a task force on knife violence. That task force will include members of Congress, my Cabinet and leaders of national organizations, and will recommend new laws to reduce the knife violence afflicting our nation. I expect Joe’s completed task force report to be on my desk no later than November 1st.”

Biden thanked Obama and said, “As you well know, Mr. President, I have been a longtime advocate of strict knife controls. As head of this new task force, I will put my heart and soul into the effort to have Congress enact legislation that will protect American citizens from becoming the victims of wanton knife assaults. You have my solemn word on it!”

Ed Henry, senior White House correspondent for Fox News, asked Biden, “Are you going to propose taking their cherished scout knives away from the Boy Scouts?” The Vice President glared at Henry and replied, “Next question!”