I too purchased pocketknives without my parents when I was a kid/teen and carried a pocketknife (including to school) since I was around 9 years old (my Cub Scout knife). Despite getting into the routine fights usually with my friends, I would have never considered pulling out my knife to use as a weapon, just not part of our mentality for settling things, fistfights and the occasional mud clod war.

Today, things are very different, most schools have a zero tolerance policy for any kind of knife (due to the actions of a few), which, depending upon the school may even include a nail file. We can decry the current state of affairs with these excessive policies and loss of common sense, but often, it is same lot us who will also decry the lack of parental oversight when things go wrong.

It is sometimes difficult to rectify or balance personal responsibility (of the kids) with parental responsibility. As a parent, I feel very strongly, that it is my responsibility and my primary responsibility to instill in my kids the knowledge of right from wrong. However, I can tell you from personal experience, including my own actions, kids/teens do not always make the right/thoughtful/intelligent decision and require guidance.

Balancing privileges, rights and responsibilities for our kids is not always easy and I would rather air on the side of caution and know what my kids are doing (in their business/bee’s wax), including consumer purchases, then be one of those parents, who are shocked when their kid is arrested for whatever.

Indeed it is a different generation.

Just my 2 cents-
Pete