Our nation is understandably gripped by fear about the spread of gun culture. Horror stories about mass shootings in American schools and gangster-style assassinations send shivers down the spine.

Yet the threat posed by knives is a more real danger in our streets, homes and schools.

Knife crime may have fallen, but 29 young Britons have been knifed to death so far this year.

Youngsters say they carry knives for protection, yet statistically they are more likely to fall victim to a knife attack if they themselves carry such a weapon.

Knives are much more easily available than guns, and much easier to hide.

Some experts also believe that a diet of violent films, TV shows and computer games may be fuelling the enthusiasm for knives, and dimming our youngsters' awareness that they are deadly weapons.

With that in mind, the Government has decided to launch a tough advertising campaign aimed at young knife-carriers.

The campaign will feature graphic images showing the genuine damage that knives have done to their victims.

Advertising campaigns have proven successful in changing public opinion. Drink-driving became socially unacceptable in part because of such a campaign, and attitudes to smoking hardened drastically after publicity showed the real impact smokers had on their own health and that of others.

Publicity cannot be enough on its own: tough legislation also needs to be rigidly enforced to crack down on those who use knives.

But we hope the Government's pictures will make anyone thinking of carrying a knife think again - for their own safety, and that of the innocents who could suffer at their hands.