Look, guys, this is far from being rocket science as to why there are so many violent incidents, especially involving weapons:
THERE IS NO REALISTIC DETERRENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The scum who perpetrate such atrocities do so simply because what's the worst that's liable to happen even if they're actually convicted of taking another human being's life?? A few years inside an institution more cushy than a holiday camp?
The PC Brigade would see to it that capital punishment is never reintroduced. However, if only we had, for example, corporal punishment in the form of public flogging, I'd put money on the crime rate plummeting! (That'll impress the wishy washy liberals, won't it?)
The fact is that by NOT having an effective deterrent in place, violent crime will continue to spiral out of control and the murders of innocent people will continue unabated.
I have little doubt that the peep-toed sandle merchants will be horrified at the mere suggestion that any physical punishment should even be breathed, let alone introduced, and would try to claim that such measures would only "brutalise" these "misunderstood" individuals.
But in the meantime, the murders will continue, even in places like sleepy little Hereford.
Ever had that sense of deja vu and hopelessness?