Knife in Italy.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13651, 20 July 1908, Page 3

Knife in Italy.

What, says a cable message from Rome, of May 23rd can Italy do 10 11a hciseii 01 llio unenviable primacy which she holds among civilised nations in blood crimts? This problem is being warmly debated in the Italian Chamber of Deputies in connection with ,the introduction of the Premier, iSignor Giolitti's Bill dealing with vhe ' carrying of knives, firearms, eic. Although the mutter luis been frequently disuuswed in Parliament since the Marquis di Rudini laid liis bill before the benate in December 1896, ■the discussions have resulted invariably in the question being referred to commissions for further stuily. Meanwhile blood crimes have increased alarmingly. As the law at present stands, if an unoffending citizen be knifed but nob mortally, his assassin ' cannot be legally arrested unless caught in tho act., and when twenty-lour hours have elapsed from the commission of the act he is free to mingle with other citizens till summoned to appear before the Courts, should the victim die or, on recovery, proceed to prosecute. iio' strong, however, is . the' feeling of the Liberal majority as to the practical unwisdom of severe repressive legislation, and so difficult has. it beceu found to prohibit or restrict anus aciid knife uanyuig without!causing an outcry i>a the score oi iiilrmging lUe iibei'iy ol industrial commercial and professional life, tha,t it is i-.till |H(.o ; em.tucui whether _ iSiguur Uiolitti's measure will not be ultimately rejected. A mass of Italian citizens will'not tolerate a lair which forbids the carrying of "any pointed or cutting instrument apt to offend or endanger another's life." But ISignor Uiolitti may possib.y fiave tJiti JMsl by accepting Deputy Stoppatti's amendment to cliforce the veto solely against individuals already convicted of violent outraged oil persons and property, 'lliis would tillable a. beginning to be made, but it could hardly affect the southern half of Italy, where Mil- custom of carrying deadly weapons for aggressive, or defensive 2 JUJ T ose s pervades tho bulk. •of the' population. : A group of deputies, headed by Signor Stoppati, called the attention of the Chamber to the fact that a large proportion of blood cyimes is traceable to drunkenness, which is steadily becoming more prevalent in Italy. The group urges that thp voluntary drunkard shall be'-account-ed! a criminal, and a' law punishing publicans guilty :of serving intoxicants ' to tfrunben • peoplo should be introduced similar to that in force in' England.;