The whole thing with belts is concern over a suicide issue. The funniest story I ever heard around that was when Arlo Guthrie got arrested for littering (documented in the song 'Alice's Resturant') and was asked by "Officer Obie" to give up his belt. Arlo responded, "Do you really think I'm going to hang myself over a littering charge?" To which Ofc. Obie (in character) responded, "Shut up, kid>"
Which reminds me of my favorite exchange from a Damon Runyan story:
"Why, Daddy?" I asked.
"Shut up," Daddy said.