Many parents are alarmed at news of the death of a twelve year old Queensland boy, knifed by a fellow student in a school yard - and a knife threat between two students of similar age in New South Wales.
It is a fact of life that many young people in Australia customarily carry a knife with them when they mix socially - and in some cases carry one for protection when travelling to and from school.
In previous times knives were not part of the Australian culture. But then - neither were drugs or ethnic gangs or the tendency for extreme violence in settling arguments.
The emergence of a knife culture seems driven by concern for personal safety. Going out in a group for a day or night of entertainment carries the real threat that there may be a confrontation with others - and those others will have the advantage of some form of weapon.
Unlike most other lethal weapons, knives are the most readily available. The kitchen of every home contains a plethora of knives - and they are easy to conceal.
There simply is no answer to this problem. We have become a violent society and the kids of today fall into two categories.
Those with the bully boy culture who wish to exercise dominance over others - and those who seek personal protection.
To both - the knife is an option for offence - and for defence !
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