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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think children shouldn't have toy guns?

182 replies

trianglesaregood · 08/05/2013 13:55

At the park this morning and noticed some pre-school age boys playing, quite aggressively, with toy guns. One looked like some sort of machine gun complete with toy ammo! I was a bit shocked as I didn't think anyone gave their kids these kind of toys anymore; none of my friends do and I wouldn't think it appropriate for my children. Am I living in a bubble? Wondered what others thought?

OP posts:
ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 08/05/2013 15:34

I used to feel like this. I even used to undo gifts from other people - eg action men Hmm - and remove all weapons. Nothing, not even a bright yellow water pistol, got through these doors.

Then one day I walked into the living room and found them sword fighting with straws and I realised I was wasting my time Grin

pictish · 08/05/2013 15:36

And as I type actually, ds2 and dd are shooting each other with their fingers.

mrsjay · 08/05/2013 15:36

I do think parents do do weapons with all the good intentions but if a boy wants to play shooting or get the bad guy then whether he has a gun or not they will still play like that, I said boys because realistically it is boy who are more interested than girls IME dd did have a toy light sabre and did the wooshy noise though Grin

mrsjay · 08/05/2013 15:36

And as I type actually, ds2 and dd are shooting each other with their fingers.

see told you Grin

TigOldBitties · 08/05/2013 15:37

Pretty much what Hecsy said, I had feelings about this, but they made them, pretended to have them or just thumped each other instead.

It was pointless, so I stopped wasting my time.

WestieMamma · 08/05/2013 15:40

We didn't have guns as kids, but that's because Mum got sick of the holes in all her potatoes. Do they still make spud guns?

TeaMakesItAllPossible · 08/05/2013 15:40
mrsjay · 08/05/2013 15:45

I once got hit in the eye with spud gun I think they are now banned, we have a thing round here with B B guns but that was older boys

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 08/05/2013 15:47

I did. Full body search. Grin

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 08/05/2013 15:48

I have a scar along one eyebrow where a friend of mine threw a tin lid like a frisbee and sliced me open. I could have lost an eye.

On balance, I'd say a plastic gun is safer Grin

5madthings · 08/05/2013 15:49

Spud guns aren't banned, ds2 has one bought from the local toy shop, not that its at all irritating to get the potatoes out to peel and find them full of holes.... Hmm he is only allowed to shoot iut outside at a target and not people. Its great fun tho :)

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 08/05/2013 15:49

I was anti toy gun when DS (now 17) was small. He never had one, and never wanted one when he was small. Sadly blood will out, and he comes from a family of "real boys".think blowing things up in the back garden I actually prefer them to have guns that look like guns. DS always wanted BB guns. I said he wouldnt have enough respect for others if he thought that BBs wouldnt injure them, and steered him towards air rifles. He has subsequently had both, and I was proved right. Thankfully his uncles, DP and I all believe that guns are fun, but need to be treated with the utmost respect and he has been taught the rules right from the start. He knows guns aren't toys.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 08/05/2013 15:50

Mind you, ssaying that, you cant beat a nerf gun! Grin Blush

5madthings · 08/05/2013 15:51

www.amazon.co.uk/Spud-Colours-vary-that-shown/dp/B000H6W726

For anyone that wants a spud gun Grin

mrsjay · 08/05/2013 15:51

are they not I thought they were banned it was about 100 years ago I was very dramatic if I remember right shouting about being blind I wasn't i was fine

CrapBag · 08/05/2013 15:53

I have a friend who is really anti guns. Doesn't stop her giving her DS a crossbow, axe, ball with spikes sticking out of it and lots of other toy weapons, all from a very young age. But she would recoil in horror at the idea of a gun, because they are more 'real' apparently and would be easier to get hold of. Hmm Not sure how its easier to get hold of a real gun rather than an axe that you could pick up in a DIY shop.

DS doesn't have a toy gun at the moment but I would get him one of those nerf things in a couple of years.

5madthings · 08/05/2013 15:55

I think you can get big ones that shoot whole potatoes at high velocities...which are not necessarily legal... A few came up made out of drainpipes when I googled...

But the regular kind that just uses bits of potato is fine :) they can fire quite far but not hard enough to hurt ime.

CrowsLanding · 08/05/2013 15:56

My boys love guns. never seen a problem with them having them tbh.

CrapBag · 08/05/2013 15:56

My aunt banned guns and was really against them. Her DS grew up obsessed with violence and then started collecting knives when he was a teen, with the blessing of his mum Hmm. He also had quite a collection of bullets. Banning guns as toys didn't make any difference.

5madthings · 08/05/2013 15:57

Look here. www.spudtech.com

With a warning 'may cause serious injury or death'!!! Scary looking spud guns!

SPsYoniTheOneAndOnly · 08/05/2013 16:03

I loved spud gun!

I really want a nerf gun. Just for myself

Gingersstuff · 08/05/2013 16:04

The kids that grow up to be the adults that go around shooting people for fun have far, far bigger problems than playing with toy guns in their childhood. I don't understand the problem with it, my 9 yo son and his friends have played with anything and everything remotely resembling a gun since they were toddlers. They're all kind, respectful, compassionate human beings (mostly, anyway Grin) and more importantly, they KNOW the difference between a toy and a deadly weapon.

I do think that people who assume kids playing with toy guns = adult serial killer are not giving kids nearly enough credit for basic intelligence or half-decent parenting.

Pendeen · 08/05/2013 16:06

"I was a bit shocked as I didn't think anyone gave their kids these kind of toys anymore; none of my friends do and I wouldn't think it appropriate for my children. Am I living in a bubble? "

Yes I'm afraid you are living in a bubble.

mrsjay · 08/05/2013 16:10

well I grew up int he 70s they all had guns I dont know any serial killers

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 08/05/2013 16:20

DS was dead chuffed. His Uncles took him to Bisley. He got to play with some serious guns! His college mates didnt believe him, when they were drooling over a huge sniper rifle on COD or the like and he said he had shot one. He has photos to prove it! Grin
Completely off topic I know. Sorry. FWIW DS is totally un agressive in almost every way outside the Xbox. I really dont think playing with guns has affected his outlook on life.