My husband wears one too. He used to carry it in his pocket, but he lost too many knives that way. Now he carries his on his belt in a 3 inch nylon sheath. My father (school principal) used to always carry a 2-3 inch pocket knife used for opening letters, un-screwing screws, removing staples, etc.
I agree with your post - pure common sense.
This is purely anecdotal - but there are innumerable men everday around Simpsonville, SC --- the city in question --- who go about their daily business with knives/multipurpose tools (including a knife)/razor cutters on their belts in sheaths.
They go into gas stations, restaurants, etc. - no problem.
The issue here, among several issues, is selective enforcement and the targeting of a couple young boys under the supervision of their mothers.
Given that the UHU homeschooling group had been using the park at the same time every week for five years indicates to me that the cops and government teachers would have been well aware that the adults/children/teenagers in the park on Wednesday afternoons during school hours were homeschoolers.
A pissed off bitter government worker called up another pissed off government worker in order to harass law-abiding citizens and score some sort of point against the homeschoolers.
Guess what. I'm not a guy, but even I carry a couple of gizmos on my keychains which are basically tools. However, a closer look will disclose small blades that could agitate the TSA if I ever forgot to take them off the said keychain. It's a common thing...