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AIBU?

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Original poster

Toy gun in the park

36 replies

Applesandbananaz · 13/09/2024 18:26

I was in the play park today with my two pre-school aged children when 2 older boys came in with a toy gun. I am not sure what type it was, but it ran out of ammunition after around 20 minutes of play. (I am guessing a BB type but I'm no expert)

They looked to be primary aged (but were there without their parents) and were engaged in a game of hiding around the play park and then shooting at each other, until the pellets ran out.

AIBU to have felt very uncomfortable? When I left, I spoke to one of the boys and asked him not to bring a gun to the park again as it wasn't appropriate with small children about. Did I do the right thing? I feel quite disturbed by it and am not sure if I should have intervened sooner, or am I just overreacting because of the events over the summer?

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 13/09/2024 18:33

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/09/2024 18:32

Not sure what I think, but I just googled toy guns and if they were my kids I’d be worried the police might get the wrong idea and shoot them. They’re scarily realistic.

That's happened before in American but it's not far fetched to think it could happen else where.

Original poster
Applesandbananaz · 13/09/2024 18:33

SaffronsMadAboutMe · 13/09/2024 18:31

I don't see why it wasn't appropriate?

I mean, you could've asked them to take it away from the swings and slides etc, but asking them not to bring it to the park made you sound silly.

Gah ok I overreacted - for one I didn't want either myself of my children to get hit with a BB pellet - it wasn't obviously a child's toy gun if that makes sense

OP posts:
SaffronsMadAboutMe · 13/09/2024 18:33

Applesandbananaz · 13/09/2024 18:29

Definitely not a nerf gun. Loud bang when it went off and looked like a proper handgun, not a toy

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Ahhh a cap gun!

Totally safe then as they don't actually fire anything.

I had one in the 70s and loved it. I think I would've been totally bemused at a random telling me not to bring it to the park! 🤭

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/09/2024 18:32

Not sure what I think, but I just googled toy guns and if they were my kids I’d be worried the police might get the wrong idea and shoot them. They’re scarily realistic.

Rustytrombone · 13/09/2024 18:32

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TomatoSandwiches · 13/09/2024 18:31

So an imitation gun that fired pellets, no that's not an appropriate toy to use in public at all.

SaffronsMadAboutMe · 13/09/2024 18:31

I don't see why it wasn't appropriate?

I mean, you could've asked them to take it away from the swings and slides etc, but asking them not to bring it to the park made you sound silly.

Ablondiebutagoody · 13/09/2024 18:30

Sounds like a fun game to me. I want to play!

Original poster
Applesandbananaz · 13/09/2024 18:29

Magnastorm · 13/09/2024 18:28

Was it clearly a toy gun, like a nerf gun or something like that?

If so, then I think you are overreacting.

Definitely not a nerf gun. Loud bang when it went off and looked like a proper handgun, not a toy

OP posts:
Hateam · 13/09/2024 18:28

Why isn't it appropriate?

Magnastorm · 13/09/2024 18:28

Was it clearly a toy gun, like a nerf gun or something like that?

If so, then I think you are overreacting.