Excuse me, but bullsh!t. Zero tolerance means just what it says, and if schools start weighing individual circumstances...they end up getting sued.
I worked in a firm for several years which represented school districts throughout the State, and it didn't matter whether it was an anti-ditching policy, drugs/medication or even dress codes...anytime discretion came into play, someone down the road would sue.
Personally, I could give a rats ass whether the little moron was a boy scout or in the junior KKK, nor do I care about his record or grades...a weapon is a weapon. If they let him off, next time it will be a sixth grader bringing a switchblade, and he or she will claim some form of prejudice.
Rules are rules. Don't like the rules...change them, but I'm tired of idiots who whine about the enforcement of rules and end up wasting everyone's time and money.
Just my humble opinion, of course.
