My guess is that schools have to take these severe actions because they are afraid that either the kid who brought it, or some other person, could turn it into a weapon. And then someone gets injured. And the school district has to spend more money on lawyers to defend itself from possible criminal and certainly civil action. They have to maintain zero tolerance because it is just too risky for them to have anything less.
As a parent, I have to sign stuff agreeing not to send my kids with anything that can be considered a weapon (and they always put in "including, but not limited to ..."). So they can say they did everything they can to prevent stuff like that.
As a parent, I have to sign stuff agreeing not to send my kids with anything that can be considered a weapon (and they always put in "including, but not limited to ..."). So they can say they did everything they can to prevent stuff like that.