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US tourist arrested in seaside town ‘because he didn’t understand UK laws’ (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Police arrested an American tourist who admitted to openly carrying a knife on a British beachfront.

The man had reportedly been as he sunbathing in Herne Bay on Thursday when locals reported to Kent Police that he was carrying a knife.

The American reportedly told officers he came from an open-carry state in the US, claiming he had the blade for protection and was unaware he could not carry it in public in the UK.

After being arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife, he was handed a community resolution where British law around knife crime was “fully explained to him”, police said.

...

It is believed the tourist had picked up the steak knife from the kitchen of his rental property close to the coastline on Thursday April 3.

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Classic American.

Assumes every country is like America. Assumes their laws are everyone's laws. Assumes their rights are everyone's rights.

Doesn't bother to check. Doesn't look to see if anyone else is carrying a weapon to the beach.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 days ago (1 children)

He had heard that Americans were attacked on the beaches during some big war that the Yanks won for the world.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 days ago

We haven't even said thank you to him yet.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I wish the article said which state because I’m not sure this is classic “American” but knowing the state would maybe shed some light.

I’m from Minnesota and you can open carry a knife here but it would be weird to see someone carrying a steak knife. A fixed blade knife you’d maybe see in a more rural area, especially during hunting season. A pocket knife would be probably pretty common. I myself carry a multitool everyday because there’s been all sorts of times I’ve found use for the pliers, screwdrivers, snips etc.

The dumbest part to me though is the claim about self defense. A knife is an awful choice for self defense if you have time to plan ahead, he’d have been better off bringing a rolling pin or a cricket bat or something like that if he’s that worried.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think in my state its pretty likely most steak knives are too long to legally open carry anyways. It does seem unhinged to just grab whatever knife you can find to bring out and about with you, in my opinion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

even completely separately from moral dubiousness, the idea of carrying around a knife that isn't made to be carried around is completely wild.
it's like just.. holding a gun.. that's impractical and obviously makes you look like a threat.