Sandhusker
Well-known member
John Muir lost his son nearly two years ago to the savagery of knife crime and he is determined to put an end to the sudden, horrific damage caused by Scotland's blade culture.
A total of 1,170 people were admitted to hospital in Scotland in 2007, the last year official figures were available. That year 73 murders involved knives, including Damian Muir's in Inverclyde.
His father launched a campaign last year for those who are caught carrying knives to be given an automatic prison sentence. Mr Muir took his case to the Scottish Parliament and has raised awareness across the nation to the serious issue.
He told STV news on Wednesday: "The blight of knife crime is greater than when we first started out. When we first started to talk to people within the powers to be, they didn't want to know - we're just someone making noise.
"We have a very, very angry public who are losing the streets to the thugs and the neds."
Knife-related crimes in Scotland is about 3.5 times higher than south of the border.
Mr Muir, from Inverkip, near Greenock, said many thousands of people have signed his petition for prison sentences to be handed out to all those caught carrying knives.
The Greenock Telegraph are in support of his campaign. The newspaper were to host a conference on the subject on Wednesday night at the town hall.
Damian Muir, 34, was stabbed eight times in Greenock by 21-year-old Barry Gavin.
Gavin had twice avoided prison after being caught carrying knives. He was later jailed for a minimum of 15 years for the killing, which took place in July 2007.
A total of 1,170 people were admitted to hospital in Scotland in 2007, the last year official figures were available. That year 73 murders involved knives, including Damian Muir's in Inverclyde.
His father launched a campaign last year for those who are caught carrying knives to be given an automatic prison sentence. Mr Muir took his case to the Scottish Parliament and has raised awareness across the nation to the serious issue.
He told STV news on Wednesday: "The blight of knife crime is greater than when we first started out. When we first started to talk to people within the powers to be, they didn't want to know - we're just someone making noise.
"We have a very, very angry public who are losing the streets to the thugs and the neds."
Knife-related crimes in Scotland is about 3.5 times higher than south of the border.
Mr Muir, from Inverkip, near Greenock, said many thousands of people have signed his petition for prison sentences to be handed out to all those caught carrying knives.
The Greenock Telegraph are in support of his campaign. The newspaper were to host a conference on the subject on Wednesday night at the town hall.
Damian Muir, 34, was stabbed eight times in Greenock by 21-year-old Barry Gavin.
Gavin had twice avoided prison after being caught carrying knives. He was later jailed for a minimum of 15 years for the killing, which took place in July 2007.