Hey guys, First time post..
Have two sons aged 6 & 14, both of whom play with toy guns and have done since I can remember.
My youngest has his Nerf guns 6 to be exact and yes he has tried firing them all at once by taping them Together! My eldest has his Nerf, and BB guns (Airsoft rifles) as he and his mates go to play airsoft every other Saturday. Just to say, when I found out he wanted a bb gun even with that he had to prove to me he could handle it safely.
I, work in Private security and when working in Europe and South America, I'm Armed.
I am licensed in the U.K (Section 1&2) and trained (Former Reservist/TA and F.A.C holder)
I also provide instruction on proficiency and competency of SAFE handling (ISO 9001 standard), and own 7 Firearms, all are for WORK or PCD (Professional career development) or Instruction.
Both of my sons know the difference between a real firearm and a TOY....
In my personal opinion, the more you "Shelter" or restrict them for playing with -TOY- guns when they're younger, when they become older they'll want the real ones, and rebel. Then you may end up with visits from the police, them be arrested with a firearm, or they end up joining a gang just to have a gun.
If you don't like guns then that's your own choice, you may have your reasons which are perfectly viable for you, but your reasons are not your children's.
Like mine, I've been shot at on multiple occasions during my career as a Close Protection Officer and ex-squaddie, but just because that's happened to me doesn't mean to say my kids can't have their bit of fun playing soldiers or cops and robbers or body-guards.
Its about Educating them, not restricting them. My eldest comes to Bisley with me all the time when I practise, he knows the 5 principles of marksmanship inside-out and the Do's and Don'ts of the range, I've even seen him tell others off for poor or inadequate handling.
I've always taught my boys: Its not the gun its the intent of the person behind it.
As the saying goes - Gun's don't kill people - People do!
To FruitCorner, The guns that a gang member Might use are exactly the same to what the military use, except gang members aren't trained properly which is why firearms have such a bad rep because of them.....I Fully understand where you're coming from but even for imitation firearms, you still need what's called a UKARA to purchase and own them, your details are taken and then they are sent to the firearms section of the police (SC019) to sit on file, the guns are also painted bright blue, these are still in effect toys.
If you are referring to "blank" firing firearms, you still need to be licensed and apply for section 1, as this comes under the firearm act 1968 - www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27
IMHO Let them play with the TOYS, join in and play with them, don't tell them they're wrong using their imagination of pretending to be a cowboy or policeman, make it fun! pretend with them you're secret space agents and you're mission is to save the world or something :-)
that what I do with my youngest and he loves it!