Dozens of mothers and fathers joined police, housing officials and politicians at the “knife crime summit” in the east end of Glasgow.
Parents spoke about struggling to cope in the aftermath of an attack on a family member, many of which were fatal and others which resulted in severe injury and psychological scars.
The event was called by city MSPs Margaret Curran and Frank McAveety to gather support for their campaign for mandatory jail sentences for people caught carrying knives.
Christine Halley, whose son, Stuart Baillie, was killed two years ago, said her family were still being targeted even while she campaigned for tougher laws.
She said: “The one who killed Stuart got 11 years, but his gang are still threatening me. I am still living this nightmare. My family are suffering in all our lives.”
“We are being bullied and harassed. These people are behaving like animals.”
Glynnis Sangster’s 22-year-old son, Sebastian, was attacked last year by four youths in Carntyne and was stabbed several times.
Ms Sangster said: “Physically he has recovered, but psychologically he is not the same. One boy was given a 14-month sentence and will be out of jail soon. It is not nearly enough.”
Jim and Margaret Watson, whose 16-year-old daughter Diane was murdered at her school in Dennistoun in 1991, were at the meeting.
Mrs Watson called for a 25-year minimum sentence for murder with a knife, which she told the meeting Justice Secretary Jack Straw was considering in England.
Mr Watson said: “We have been given the life sentence. Some people have said to me ‘you must be over it by now’. You never get over it.”
Baillieston MSP Margaret Curran said: “This is about saying we think we can do something about knife crime. The best way to do that is to listen to the people who have experience it. Those who think it is OK to carry a knife need to know they will feel the full force of the law.
“Many have shared their experiences with us and there is a number of people here today who are not able to speak in public about what has happened because it is too harrowing.”
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