Young Boys and Toy Guns

[Mrs Behavin]

In part because of cases like the tragedy of Deantae Farrow, the West Memphis 12-year-old shot and killed by police while carrying a toy gun -- there are regulations that govern imitation firearms.In 1992, the U.S Department of Commerce issued rules calling for all "replica type" toy guns to have either an orange tip, fully transparent of translucent construction, or a bright color or pattern that covers the entire exterior.But some say even those regulations aren't enough to help police trying to do their jobs."If you're a police officer, you're not gonna distinguish if that says Mattel, or Glock," Little League Coach David Hicks said. "So I can't fault a police officer in that situation -- you're just doing your job."Some parents we talked to at the Little League Ballpark said realistic looking toy guns weren't allowed in their houses."Pretending to shoot somebody, or pretending to kill somebody, isn't a game," Juliene Knell, who has a 13-year-old son, said. "We don't even play videogames that have guns in them.""As a parent, I don't let my two boys play with toy guns, even from when they were little," Ericka Mays said.But others regretfully told us that toy guns and young boys is a combination that, whether we like it or not, has become an American pastime -- one that often seems impossible to fight against."There's always gonna be a boy that likes to play with a toy gun, it's just the nature of a boy, basically," 23-year-old Nicholas Sweeden said."You''ll never get rid of it -- boys follow what they model, and everything that they model has guns, videogames, movies -- even cartoons have guns," Kelly Connelly, mother of four boys, said."Even if you had no guns in the house, if you had a sandwich, they'd chew it into the shape of a gun -- I don't know, it's just in their nature," Vanya Gilmore said

Story Detail

 

[Keight]

I dont let my kids have toy guns and this is one of the reasons why... some people think im mean for not letting my boys have them as they are only tous, but hey when the whole thing with the terrorists was going on i saw a 5 year old holding a semi automatic..... enough for me to say hell no not for my kids even if they are toys

 

[NightWarrior]

Nope, I agree with you here. I never let my boy play with toy guns. Times have changed.

 

[Mrs Behavin]

We was at a drug store a couple months ago waiting on a prescription so we were walking around and I told my 4 yr old that he could pick out a toy while we were there since he was being good. He looked around for a bit and see this little toy gun and I debated about it for a while and I told him that he was to only play with it inside the house and not take it outside and especially do not bring it with him when he is in the car. Cause I could just see him having that in the car playing with it and a policeman see him with it and think it was real and then get my butt pulled over

 

[pavel]

If I have kids, I'll probably teach them to use real guns instead of buying them toy ones. That should hopefully impart a healthy fear and respect of firearms.

 

[All Else Failed]

Its harmless. It doesn't even matter if they have toy guns or not, little boys will still play army men and what not.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I let my kids have those water super soaker guns. I see no harm in those.

Toy guns that look like real guns, no. Guns are not toys and should not be replicated realistically as toys.

My oldest has a rifle and will get a handgun in a few years. He has been educated to learn how to shoot, clean, maintain, and of course - safety aspects of gun handling. He goes to target practice with my DH and myself. He is VERY aware that guns are NOT to be 'played' with.

Even if people do not believe in 'guns', I would encourage them to take their kids and themselves to a professional, like a police officer, and have their children educated properly. (not just talked to) They need to see, feel, and understand the power of a gun by pulling a trigger. When done in a 'right' environment, it will teach them that guns are no joke, not something to be played with. Guns are not something to be handled in a playful manner. Exposing them to guns in a professional environment explains and shows why that is to them.

 

[dt3]

If I have kids, I'll probably teach them to use real guns instead of buying them toy ones. That should hopefully impart a healthy fear and respect of firearms.

Its harmless. It doesn't even matter if they have toy guns or not, little boys will still play army men and what not.

I let my kids have those water super soaker guns. I see no harm in those.

Toy guns that look like real guns, no. Guns are not toys and should not be replicated realistically as toys.

My oldest has a rifle and will get a handgun in a few years. He has been educated to learn how to shoot, clean, maintain, and of course - safety aspects of gun handling. He goes to target practice with my DH and myself. He is VERY aware that guns are NOT to be 'played' with.

Even if people do not believe in 'guns', I would encourage them to take their kids and themselves to a professional, like a police officer, and have their children educated properly. (not just talked to) They need to see, feel, and understand the power of a gun by pulling a trigger. When done in a 'right' environment, it will teach them that guns are no joke, not something to be played with. Guns are not something to be handled in a playful manner. Exposing them to guns in a professional environment explains and shows why that is to them.

:withstupid::withstupid::withstupid:

 

[pavel]

:withstupid::withstupid::withstupid:

okay.

 

[dt3]

okay.

I agree with all 3 posts I quoted...

 

[GuesSAngel]

no toy guns will be in my house.

 

[sexy.time]

When i was 5 i got this cap gun that was made out of metal, and was a dark brass color. Man i used to love that thing cuz it looked so real.

 

[All Else Failed]

I've had a rifle in my hands since I was 9, and I'm not violent in any way.

 

[pavel]

I agree with all 3 posts I quoted...

Heh, the "I'm with stupid" was a little ambiguous there.

 

[dt3]

Heh, the "I'm with stupid" was a little ambiguous there.

Well if you ask my wife, anyone who agrees with me must be stupid