police confiscate walking stick from ancient gentleman

[franksolich]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1064338/Police-confiscate-walking-stick-retired-teacher-78-offensive-weapon.html

Oh my.

Police confiscate walking stick from retired teacher, 78, because it is an 'offensive weapon'

They must have known he was a troublemaker the moment they saw him.

With his white hair, wax jacket and glasses, 78-year-old Philip Clarkson Webb clearly ticked all the boxes any eagle-eyed policemen would mark as 'danger'.

And as he shuffled along the pavement towards them there was one thing above all they deemed to pose a threat - his walking stick.

The officers surrounded the retired classics teacher and informed him the 3ft wooden cane was an 'offensive weapon' and had to be confiscated.

Mr Clarkson Webb duly handed it over, but the farce did not end there.

When he later went to collect it from his local police station in Southborough, Kent, with his police receipt, he was told it had been misplaced.

It took a string of phone calls for Kent Police to finally admit they had lost it and to offer to buy him a brand new one.

Mr Clarkson Webb was caught up by overzealous policing at a climate camp environmental demonstration in Kingsnorth last month.

He was not one of the activists at the climate camp but merely paid a visit to attend a seminar on trade energy quotas.

More, and pictures, too, at the link above.

But one wonders what there is about 'trade energy quotas' that would interest an ancient gentleman.

[Lord Undies]

Before judging harshly, please remember there is always another side to consider.  At times, I use a black cane.  I have been known to aim it out the car window like a rifle. 

Not all of us semi-ambulatory funsters are innocent of all charges.

[Chris_]

I also use a cane/walking stick at times.  Mine is metal with a rubber tip that covers a tip similar to a ski pole...designed to penetrate ice when needed.   :innocent:

[thundley4]

I also use a cane/walking stick at times.  Mine is metal with a rubber tip that covers a tip similar to a ski pole...designed to penetrate ice when needed.   :innocent:

Something like this?

[Chris_]

I also use a cane/walking stick at times.  Mine is metal with a rubber tip that covers a tip similar to a ski pole...designed to penetrate ice when needed.   :innocent:

Something like this?

Not that fancy.  Mine came from Bass Pro Shops.