"Actually, the stupidity, heavy handedness and lack of common sense makes me want to weep.. "
Yes, me too....
.....you know, it does seem that the UK in general is more socially accepting of these kind of stupid acts (i.e. the manufacturing of risk and threat - when none exists) than other countries. (i.e. Canada) - yet we have our share of dumb rules too, like no steak knives in lunch kits for kids..even if you have steak to eat).
Examples are the illegal nature of carrying a locking pocket knife...
Now, an example is the recent posting about the chainsaws and how they should be banned. Why is it that the public is more accepting of autocratic government, without common sense? Or are you?
Further examples on BCUK are the conversations regarding the "covert" flint knife, the illegal trapping of crayfish, the illegal carrying of a slingshot (pocket catapult) - by the way, I carried one every day as a kid-...etc.....and my all time favorite so far, the fact that a bow-drill could not be brought to school to show children how their ancestors lit fires----because it was a FIRE RISK...?
Surely not all of the UK is this anal?