Your thesis ignores the fact that imitations and air rifles and even BB guns can and do look extremely 'real', particularly to those like me who have no interest in the subject. And particularly if you are being threatened with one.
Carrying knives or any sort of firearm in public should be mandatory jail time as far as I am concerned. As should being involved in supply or manufacture of drugs.
Nice simple rules that even the scrotes should be able to understand.
For someone who has "no interest in the subject" you seem to have a lot to say about it most of your opinions on the matter are typical of someone who does not understand that 90% of knives or guns are simply a tool & legally held & used by responsible owners, or used for pleasure, this is the attitude the shooting community has to deal with all the time, as for the other 10% no matter what laws you might like to see passed they will still do just as they please (lets face it there are probably 50 bladed tools in your house right now that could easily be used as a weapon ................ Oh & dont forget that big bag of golfist sticks, very dangerous in the wrong hands (yours ) ban them & send all golfists to jail for 3 years for possession of an offensive weapon
One good point you make is about imitation firearms, replica's are so good now I agree it can be difficult to tell the difference, at a club or used legally in your own back garden I have no real problem with them but waving one about on the street can & should get you shot with the real thing ................... again they are legal to own & use in the right place but those that carry/use them for anything other than pleasure activities should be treated to a long holiday at her majesty's pleasure