While Survival Sam and I were at Duane’s house visiting yesterday, Duane’s 8-year-old son Bryce came bounding down the stairs.

            “Sam, look what Uncle Bill gave me for Christmas!” Bryce said as he held out  what looked to me like a rather large pocket knife.

            “That’s a very practical gift,” said Sam.  “It’s a good thing for a boy to have.  I think I saw one just like it when I clicked on Knife Depot's banner on John's blog.”

            “Jenny got one, too,” Bryce said.

            “Yeah,” said Duane, “Diane freaked.  She didn’t think it was a very good gift, since she’s afraid the kids could cut themselves, and she didn’t think it was the right thing to give to a girl.”

            “It is important to know how to use such a knife,” said Sam, “and how not to use it so one doesn’t get hurt.  But it really is a practical survival tool to have around, including for girls.”

            “Uncle Bill said we could use it if we go camping next summer, or to fight off bad guys,” Bryce bubbled.

            “They sure can’t take them to school though,” said Duane.  “Maybe you heard about the 10-year-old girl in Florida who was whisked off by sheriff’s deputies for using a stake knife to cut the meat in the lunch she brought from home.  She wasn’t threatening anybody or doing anything wrong.”

            “Wow,” I said.

            “This zero tolerance has really gotten out of hand,” Sam said.  “It’s one of many reasons I can see for pulling kids out of the public school system.”

            “Oh, I don’t know about that one,” Duane said.  “That’s another story.  Diane and I aren’t ready to cross that bridge yet.”

            “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, Duane,” said Sam, “but I know you care about your family, so you ought to give it some thought.”

            Bryce bounded back up the stairs, shouting as he ran.  “Mom, Sam likes my knife!”