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AIBU?

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Original poster

Giving toy guns as gifts

258 replies

juneau · 28/05/2018 19:11

I'm not sure whether I'm being unreasonable or whether others feel like this.

DS was 7 earlier this month and he had a party which his school friends came to and he was given three toy guns as gifts. Now I know it's up to people what they give and that as the recipient's parent I don't get a say, and I should be grateful that these DC came to his party and brought him a gift (and I am), but I would never give a gun as a gift. I think it's really inappropriate and I'm very uncomfortable with having even toy guns in my house. Seeing my 7-year-old running around with a gun (albeit a plastic one), and shooting at us and laughing is horrible. And of course he loves them and he was given them and if I took them away then I'd be the bad guy Sad

OP posts:
UpstartCrow · 28/05/2018 19:13

Yanbu, the DC's had guns and Action Man but I wouldn't give them to another persons child.

Thehop · 28/05/2018 19:14

Mine aren’t allowed guns and they know I’ll take them off them. I know I’m a cow but I hate them x

Racecardriver · 28/05/2018 19:16

YANBU. My four year old is going through a WWII phase that involves building guns out of lego and pretending to shoot the Germans (I. E. Us). I have to keep telling him off.

Fruitcorner123 · 28/05/2018 19:17

I wouldn't give a gun as a gift so I get where you are coming from. My son has been given one which went 'missing' after a couple of weeks.

it is just for make believe play though, he's not going to turn into a violent thug because he pretended to be a cowboy when he was 7.

Just get rid of it when the novelty has worn off

Allthebestnamesareused · 28/05/2018 19:20

Nerf guns/water shooter or fake gun lookalikes. I would be ok with first 2 but not the 3rd.

Witchend · 28/05/2018 19:22

NERF guns are fun though. I bought my df one last Christmas and he loves it.

titchy · 28/05/2018 19:22

Those that don't allow guns, I assume you've removed all twigs from your surroundings and amputated your child's index and middle fingers?

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 28/05/2018 19:24

I give Nerf guns, kids love them-I love them.

mzsink · 28/05/2018 19:25

Yabu in my opinion.

Witchend · 28/05/2018 19:25

Guns are better than swords for pretend play at that age. Swords end up with injuries as fighting involves hitting. Have you banned swords too?

qwertyuiopy · 28/05/2018 19:28

titchy? Was that supposed to be sarcasm? 🙄

Meralia · 28/05/2018 19:28

Are they nerf type guns? DS had one of these some years ago, and DD had a nerf crossbow, hours of fun shooting the foam bullets at the patio door!

expatinspain · 28/05/2018 19:29

I gave a Nerf gun to DD's school friend. TBH it didn't cross my mind that the parents might no allow them. This thread will make me think twice now, although I do think Nerf guns are a bit different than replica toy guns, but maybe IAU for thinking that.

Would you let your DS go paint balling or to lazer quest?

Notso · 28/05/2018 19:29

I'd buy a Nerf gun or a water pistol. I wouldn't buy a replica gun for another child although my own have them.

Most children will end up playing some sort of shooting game at some point either on the computer or with toys. I don't see it's a massive issue really.

FittonTower · 28/05/2018 19:29

I don't give guns to my children or other people's. I don't like them.
I obvioulsy won't be amputating fingers or clearing my gardens of twigs but when/if my kids start pretending to shoot I'll ask them to stop same way i ask them to stop now when they're kicking the ball too near my windows or climbing on the fence at the end of the garden.

Fruitcorner123 · 28/05/2018 19:30

Guns are better than swords for pretend play at that age

I think the objection with guns is that they are a modern weapon. Swords represent a historical era and are mainly part of a knights costume.

Sparklingbrook · 28/05/2018 19:30

Nerf guns are the most fun ever. I miss them. Also water pistols.

My two used to love Lazerquest and also went Paintballing.

What sort of guns are we talking about?

FittonTower · 28/05/2018 19:31

Although i am a bit hypocritical because i do give them water-pistols, but squirting water is fun.....

Fruitcorner123 · 28/05/2018 19:31

Those that don't allow guns, I assume you've removed all twigs from your surroundings and amputated your child's index and middle fingers?

its replica guns that look like the guns a gang member might carry that we are objecting to.

RunMummyRun68 · 28/05/2018 19:31

Yes and? Modern day or not, they are all weapons designed to kill

Bows and arrows
Swords

The lot!

missedith01 · 28/05/2018 19:32

YANBU. I wouldn't give them as a gift either.

AmazingPostVoices · 28/05/2018 19:32

I don’t allow guns and the kids know that if they are given any I would swap them out for a gift of equal value. I have no problem being “the bad guy”.

A relative who thinks I’m unreasonable about this bought a nerf gun for my DS and told me so before his birthday with a “I’m so naughty tinkly laugh”.

I think she thought I’d be too polite to tell her to return it. She knows better now. Grin

Titchy my kids have never shown an interest in using twigs as guns or played pretend shooting.

They know my reasons for being anti guns. They are fine with it.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 28/05/2018 19:33

I’ve bought a nerf gun as a gift but never imitation guns

CloudCaptain · 28/05/2018 19:33

Pow pow.

NerrSnerr · 28/05/2018 19:34

My daughter is going through a gun phase where her fingers or anything else is a gun. She must have got it from preschool. I showed her people shooting at the Olympics on YouTube and she now pretends to shoot targets instead of people usually