Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Actually I think water guns are ok... my 4 yr old wants a marshmallow shooter he saw in a mag!

Message edited 1/27/2010 10:29:37 PM.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Water guns are ok with me. I don't feel comfortable with toy guns that look like the real thing.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I am very much against toy guns. I do not want my kids thinking guns are toys. My ds has always been told about the danger of guns.

I lost my brother who had a bb gun and was shot and killed by a cop who alleged he thought it was a real gun. I have also met family members of others who had actual toy guns mistaken for real guns as well.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

not in my house.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I am totally against toy guns. I have a brother and my parents never ever gave him a toy gun to play with. No one was allowed to even buy him one as gift either. No kids in our family are allowed a toy gun.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

My MIL bought Andrew a toy gun that turns into a sword for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

Against my better judgement I let him play with it and quickly realized this is not a toy for a 3 1/2 yr old. I threw it out! He didn't even miss it.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Ohhh I am sooo against toy guns.!!! And my DH is an armorer for his military until. WHich means he takes them apart, puts them back together, fixes them all day long. We are okay with water guns that LOOK like a water gun (We only get the really big ones like the back pack ones).

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

If you asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have said no way, no how not ever! Growing up, we weren't even allowed to use the Duck Hunt gun for the Nintendo game! My parents were VERY anti-gun and anything that had to do with it..

Then I met DH and my world went 180 degrees!

He is an avid hunter and has a real appreciation for guns. We will be teaching our children about guns used in the sporting and hunting areas.

We will NOT allow our DS (or DD) to play guns in the sense of "war" or shooting each other. That is unacceptable in my opinion.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I wouldn't buy him a gun, but from my experience boys all seem to make guns from anything, twigs, their hands, etc..

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

Water/dart guns are OK by me.....we WILL teach them to respect guns, no question.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I would never buy my DS a gun, or fake swords, knifes etc. And if someone buys him one, it will be thrown out.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I grew up playing cowboys and indians. So did my brother.

He is not a raging lunatic killing people.

I think the use of "play gun" is all in contest of the play.

A "water gun".... I don't even consider that a gun. I think people make more than it really is. I would have LOVED to have a water gun when I was a kid. I don't see it as violence. I see it as fun and a much better aim than a water hose. But that's my opinion!

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I would NEVER buy a gun for someone else's kid -

No real guns in my house - No one is a police officer, or otherwise required to carry a gun for work - Not necessary in my house -

No toy guns that LOOK like they're real -I don't see any reason for that kind of 'reality' for the 'make believe' play ........

I"m not going to be the kill joy that takes away the water guns and nerf guns and the fun stuff - That to me is obviously a toy .......and I think you have to teach them at some point about the reality of guns. - They're going to go to school and learn things from other kids, regardless of what we WANT them to know .......KIWM?

and for those who "don't have sons" I'm not sure what that has to do w/ anything - I still remember my sister and I running around my cousin's backyard playing - WE (the girls) always had the good weapons !! We also knew it was MAKE BELIEVE !!!

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I am pretty liberal on most things BUT, this is probably the one thing I will not waver on...

My DS has things that we refer to as "water shooters" , they don't look like guns which I like and he has a lot of fun with them in the pool...He also has Nerf ball poppers ( again do not resemble a gun)...The only thing he has that somewhat has the connotation of a "gun" is a Marshmallow Shooter (both he and my DH got one for Christmas)
We are very peticular with him on what it is and what its purpose is...He KNOWS he is to never aim it at anyone and because we have been so "anti-gun" and not swayed, he is very aware that its probably the one thing mommy and daddy will not tolerate...

I do not like the type of play that it promotes....While I can still control it, I will..Unfortunately some of my friends w/ DC's do not share the same feelings as I, so my DS is exposed to this type of play elsewhere and it almost seems that this is the ONLY type of play that these children want...My DS doesn't know what he's supposed to act like when they start playing good guy/bad guy

My DS has an excellent imagination and loves sports etc ...Of-course he "can" turn anything into a "gun" , but he seems to choose not to and turns his interest elsewhere , which is just fine by me

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

DS, and yes, DD too (girls can play with guns, too... ) make "guns" out of anything and everything, so it's unrealistic for me to say "no guns" in the house, since even if I take away every toy they own, they still have fingers....

I do want to teach them how to respect guns, and to know the difference between real and pretend. I think DS is starting to understand, and I'll start reinforcing that.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

my ds is 2 1/2 he wants a nerf gun really bad, but i said he has to wait until he is 5. Im not a fan of guns, of any kind. there are sooo many other toys for kdis to play with.
guns that look like real ones- nope, no way.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I don't know about this... I'm not anti-gun at all, quite the opposite. Just not sure how I feel about my child having a toy gun. I guess I'll see where we're at when he is of the age.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I was thinking about this more last night...where did he even learn about guns...or the fun? of them...


I can only trace it back to chuck e cheese. The water shooting game...the aim your gun at the animal's food gun...

that bb gun story is a true nightmare. thank you for sharing.

my dh has 2 airsoft guns hidden in the garage. I am sure him and josh have secretly shot them off as well.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

I will not buy him a fake gun ever.
When he is old enough (in Jr. high I woudn't be opposed to water guns in the summer)

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

DS shows no interest in guns and has not even asked about DH's gun (he is a cop) because he usually wears it home. I dont really feel the need to buy him toy guns right now. If someone buys him a water gun or something I wouldnt be opposed to him playing with it.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

im ok with water guns - u know the big ones that u pump and shoot the water

on a side note i had myneices and nephew over during the summer for a couple of weeks and i got a bunch of those big water guns for the kids to play with. my friend happened to stop by with her son and was upset bc i said the word water gun.

i think its naivee if u dont explain and shelter ur kids from things that make them curious especially if u have a gun in the house,


dh has a gun for work and he explained to my neices and nephews about how dangerous his gun is (my sister was ok with this and actually happy dh had a talk with them)

Message edited 1/28/2010 11:04:26 AM.

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

My nephew is OBSESSED with guns-he is 6. We don't buy him guns-for Christmas we bought him an archery set. I am not really a fan for MY kids. Though I don't have a problem with water guns...so who knows

Re: What do you think about giving your child toy guns?

My son received a nerf toy gun fro xmas from friends and I thought nothing of it. I have no problem with my child playing with toy guns. He has a water gun for the summer time and he also has a gun that turns into a blade. The toy is actually fun to play with makes all sorts of noise and has flashing lights. He uses the blade to pretend to cut stuff like his grilled cheese sandwich and the wood we have by our fire place. He never used the toys in violence, never hurt anyone, never killed anyone. It's all play. I remember when I was little playing a duck hunt nintendo game which game with a gun to shoot. I had fun playing with it and never wanted to shoot ducks for real. He is too young to understand about real guns right now but when he is old enough he is going to know what the difference is and how danderous real guns are. I went to a 1st birthday party and they had a balloon guy who made swords. All the kids were sword fighting in fun. Sword balloons, toy swords, toy guns... pirate costume with sword, cowboy costume with cowboy gun... I don't see any harm in that stuff for my kids.