Labour's Scottish Parliament leader Iain Gray has launched a petition to allow the public to show their support for Scottish Labour’s knife crime proposals. He said:

“Our proposal for a minimum sentence for knife criminals is the right way to send a clear message. That message is – carry and knife and go to jail. I have heard clearly today that Scotland wants action on knives and it’s time for delivery.

"Labour took action on knives whilst in power. We doubled the maximum sentence, we took 13,000 knives off the street in a month’s amnesty but it’s now clear that more needs to be done."

Georgette Neil, whose husband Malcolm was fatally stabbed on 13 October 2007, she said:
 
“I am fully supportive of Scottish Labour's plans to bring in minimum sentences for knife crime. Illegal knife carrying is never justified and we need tough measure to make our streets safer."
 
John Muir, whose son Damian was murdered in a knife attack and who took his son’s case to the Scottish Parliament to successfully lobby for a knife summit, said:
 
"I am pleased that Labour is bringing forward plans to introduce mandatory sentences for knife crime. It is an excellent step forward. What the public need now is tough action. But for that to happen we need strong leadership and a strong government, but that is simply not happening. It is time now for the SNP government to act."