Toy guns for kids

[HMFIC]

When toy guns are witheld, most little boys will find something else to use as a toy gun. In my opinion, the best thing is to teach him the difference between the toys and the real thing. Teach him that playing guns with his friends in the back yard, is make believe, and using guns and actually shooting people is reality. Teach him that life is precious, and we don't take another person's life lightly. When taking someone else's life, there must be good reason, mostly protecting your own life, or that of another, but also as a form of discipline for those who have taken another's life maliciously and without regard to the sanctity and preciousness of it. Likewise, when we take the life of an animal, it is to feed ourselves, and make clothing and shelter. Even an animal's life is precious, and not to be taken purely for sport. If you kill an animal, make it's death honorable by using that animal to continue and protect life. Anywho, that's my two cents.

+1

This.

I was birthed at a gun show, weaned on Hoppes, and schooled by The Lone Ranger. I had more toy guns than I could count but was also taught that they were in fact toys. I also was trained and taught about real guns from the time I can remember. I've never confused the two, nor will your kids if you teach them properly.

 

[farmerbyron]

There is a big difference between brightly colored plastic guns and ones that don't shoot projectiles and real guns. Kids are sharp enough to know the difference between them if you explain it and keep the real ones in the safe.

I got my son a BB gun and it is put away with the other guns and he can only shoot it with myself or his uncle. It is good to teach him about backstops and to be aware what is behind his target. I will move him up to a .22 when he is ready.

Each kid is different but I see no harm whatsoever in letting your kids play with nerf guns, water guns, or just noisemakers. Just make a clear demarcation between them and real guns like BB guns on up. Like was said earlier, we need to build up their interest in guns even though it is the most natural thing in the world. They could ban toy guns and kids would whittle their own out of a block of wood.

Also, I don't get why anyone would leave and unsecured handgun in the nightstand. There are plenty of quick access, small gun safes that can save your kids life if they happen to have a lapse in judgement.

 

[piston10]

Problem with other peoples' kids is you can't beat them.

So true...

 

[BIG_MIKE2005]

+1

This.

I was birthed at a gun show, weaned on Hoppes, and schooled by The Lone Ranger. I had more toy guns than I could count but was also taught that they were in fact toys. I also was trained and taught about real guns from the time I can remember. I've never confused the two, nor will your kids if you teach them properly.

Exactly. Honestly at the end of the day people can blame toys, games, music, movies but parenting is the main factor. Just b/c we live in a different generation does not mean things done in generations past are not valid or do not work. The issues we see in society are from a increasing number of worthless parents who look to blame outside influences on their childs behavior instead of their own failed shortcomings. Be a good parent & it wont matter if the child plays with toy guns or not. they will know the difference due to good parenting.

 

[TedKennedy]

Had lots of toy guns as a kid. They looked a lot cooler (more real) back then, too. Had BB guns, progressed to air rifles, etc...Mom thinks I turned out OK, don't know about the rest.

My aunt in California wouldn't let my cousin have toy guns (in the 70s). I figured he'd grow up to be some limp wristed Hollywood type. He did.

 

[piston10]

Exactly. Honestly at the end of the day people can blame toys, games, music, movies but parenting is the main factor. Just b/c we live in a different generation does not mean things done in generations past are not valid or do not work. The issues we see in society are from a increasing number of worthless parents who look to blame outside influences on their childs behavior instead of their own failed shortcomings. Be a good parent & it wont matter if the child plays with toy guns or not. they will know the difference due to good parenting.

All true. I'm trying to be the best parent I can. I have kids from 19 down to two, so far so good!

 

[vicious]

I bought my children toy guns (boy and girl) and I taught them safety starting with them. I also showed them real guns from an early age and explained the differences. I bought them a BB gun fairly early on, 5 and 9 respectively, and they see it as a "real gun". It's not a toy and isn't treated as such. I think that the mindset of education is what needs to be adopted, rather than trying to shield them from toys. Knowledge truly is power, at least in my opinion. I tend to shield my children to a point, but they have seen gratuitous sex and violence on TV, they watch the news with us. I want them to be kids, but at the same time I don't want them to be naive.

It's your child and it's your responsibility to raise them the way you see fit. This is what works for me. I'd like to say I have genuinely good kids, even though there are times that they drive me up the wall.

 

[Fatboy Joe]

I grew up with toy guns and gratuitously violent movies/games and am more or less well adjusted. Just instill values,morals, and work ethic in them and they'll turn out fine.

I agree with this statement. It is about parenting and teaching kids right from wrong. My generation is the video game generation. We started with games like Doom and Contra to Halo, GTA, Resident Evil, and Medal of Honor. My mom always had a .25 in her nightstand and we had several shotguns in the closet. I once never thought about taking it out and playing with it....Why, because my mom was only 5 feet tall (3 boys at least 10 inches taller than her) and would beat you with anything she could get ahold of.

 

[808racer]

Like most of you, I had plenty of toy guns as a kid, and used plenty of other objects as toy guns. However, even then, we were taught the fundamentals of gun safety and handling. When we graduated up to BB guns, we learned proper respect for them, and NEVER to point them at anyone. Another thing my Dad taught us was respect for nature and to be good stewards of the land and wildlife around us. I remember my friends going around shooting sparrows and black birds (with no intention of eating them, that I knew of) and thinking to myself, WTH is wrong with you guys? The other things my Dad stressed were marksmanship, quick humane kills, and ammo conservation. Once we moved up to .410's and .22's, I would always feel like a loser if it took more than one shot to take out a squirrel, and he used to beat into our skulls to never take a shot unless we were 100% positive we could make a clean one-shot kill. Having to pay for our own ammo out of our chore wages tends to improve accuracy as well.

I guess the bottom line is: Whether or not a kid grows up with proper repsect for firearms is not solely dependant on whether he or she had toy guns, but more dependant on the training and discipline instilled by the parents. I plan on passing along to my son what was passed on to me with regard to gun handling, ethical hunting, etc. beginning with his very first toy gun.

PS - As an adult, I still have a difficult time justifying emptying a 30rd mag into a target. But it sure is liberating when I decide to

 

[twoguns?]

Problem with other peoples' kids is you can't beat them.

UUMMM, you cant?

.
I taught/teach mine about gun safety at a very young age.
That way they are not afraid nor , really inquisitive.
Carrying a gun 24/7 leads to the talks with them, answering their questions. They know PaPa carrys a gun!
If they want to see them they are to ask and I will show them as soon as I can, anytime they want.
After a while its not so much of a big deal ita Just PaPa's guns.
Safety first and all things in moderation (the movies and games).
Times really arent that different , we're just more aware of it now.