Giving toy guns as gifts

[juneau]

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

It's fun? Why do you need to hit a target with an arrow? A clay with a laser? Why do you need to jump a horse? To attach two strips of wood to your feet and slide down snow? To kick a bag of gas round a field? It's all sport. People enjoy it.

My sister in law banned guns. My nephew used to pretend to shoot behind her back with his fingers So that dealt with that well. What about having a conversation with your child rather than banning everything.

@Pumperthepumper

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.

"I can’t understand this argument at all, surely the same goes for literally anything you restrict? So you just shouldn’t bother because they’ll ignore you when they get older anyway? "

ok lets put it another way, how many kids did you know in school turn round and say "ill never smoke when I'm older" because they knew if they ever touched a cigarette at THAT age their parent(s) would bring the whole world down on them?

.......And then when they hit their late teenage early twenty years end up a smoker.
That's the point I'm trying to get at or how bout the saying "the more you push, the more they dig their heels in".

Guns don’t kill, people do - "what is the purpose of a gun except to hurt or kill? They have no other function, it’s what they’re for. Not like knives or axes or other tools".

As the same for a knife, have you taken count of the 60+ STABBINGS in London recently, why is that because knives are silent aren't they?
and no killing is not what gun are just for, how about:

•Protecting your family in emergencies
•Personal safety and self defense
•Preventing and deterring crimes
•Detaining criminals for arrest
•Guarding our national borders
•Preserving our interests abroad
•Helping defend our allies
•International trade
•Emergency preparedness
•Commerce and employment
•Historical preservation and study
•Obtaining food by hunting
•Olympic competition
•Collecting
•Sporting pursuits
•Target practice
•Recreational shooting

the list is endless, so no their not just for killing and hunting.

Yes, I would say learning how to use an axe to chop wood or a knife to cut and prepare food or a chainsaw for cutting trees would all be useful to know.

I can’t see the usefulness of a gun, unless it’s for protection ie to hurt or kill.

Tomselleck I’m not sure where you’ve got got the impression I’ve said to my son ‘guns are banned and I won’t talk about if further so live your life always wondering why I don’t like you playing with them’ - of course we’ve had conversations about it.

tactile so going by that logic, you allow your seven year old to smoke? So he won’t want to do it when he’s older? Of course you don’t.

Also, your list doesn’t back up your ‘not to hurt and kill’ argument, the first seven are basically ‘for protection’ ie the intention to hurt and kill.

Also sport , guns may be used for sport now but that’s not their primary function. Guns were not made for sport and they’re primary not used for sport.

And the knife crime issue - my son isn’t allowed to pretend to stab things either.

In the UK, I'd say their primary function is for sport. They aren't used to kill people in the UK - it's very rare anyway.

ICantCopeAnymore are you honestly telling me that guns are only appealing because someone might want to become an Olympic shooter? So all these kids who are allowed to play with toy guns are actually playing Olympics?

And I’ve asked this already on this thread but what benefit is playing with guns (specifically guns) adding to his play? Over any other kind of imaginative play?

I don't believe there is any benefit but I also don't see in the harm of playing with water pistol.

I wonder if all the kids in bugsy malone productions have turned out to be psychopathic killers.

Not at all, Pumper, but as most kids and adults can't get hold of a real gun in the UK, I don't see a problem with pretend play. Children will always find ways to imaginary "kill" each other, whether it is by a gun, a sword or a walk the plank.

ICantCope ok but then where do you draw the line? Would you allow them to pretend to stab something to death? Would you allow them to pretend to kick something to death? Would you allow them to pretend to torture one of their toys?

I’ve said ‘you’, I don’t mean you specifically. At what point does violence, even pretend violence become unacceptable?

Poca I’ve already addressed this, I don’t think my son is going to grow up to be a gun-wielding maniac if I let him play with a gun. I just don’t think it’s appropriate and I’d rather he didn’t.

@Pumperthepumper

its TacticalDad86 not tactile.....

That's not what I said at all, Read it again and if you're still having trouble understanding it....then there's no hope in trying to explain anything to you from this point on as all you want to do is create an argument between others and you, which is not the reason I posted....and what "not to hurt and kill" argument? re-read my posts and please highlight that section to me where I have specifically used those words...
And where did I mention my son's are allowed to go around stabbing things? anyone who allows their child walk around stabbing things randomly needs their own mental health checked never mind the childs!
maybe that's an argument you need to take up with all Parents of little &£$@'s who have been going round stabbing KIDS recently.

and your talking me about protection?!!! Alot of the people I've protected are probably people listed in your DVD collection! please tell me in which capacity have you provided any protection for anybody apart from yourself, deleting your browser history??

@Pumperthepumper

"I’ve already addressed this, I don’t think my son is going to grow up to be a gun-wielding maniac if I let him play with a gun. I just don’t think it’s appropriate and I’d rather he didn’t."

and that's you own opinion which I don't see anyone has contested...so what is the point of your argument?

and PumperthePumper......? how comes your screen name sounds very much like a shotgun??

TACTICALDad* I do apologise. Speed reading.

You said *and no killing is not what gun are just for, how about:’ on your post at 16:36 in answer to my question ‘what are guns for if not hurting and killing’ then listed examples of where they were used to hurt and kill people.

And yes, I am struggling to understand your ‘they’ll only do it anyway’ arguement, I think I’ve been pretty clear about why I can’t understand it. It’s nonsense, you don’t allow your kids to do anything whatsoever they like just so they won’t do it when they’re older.

You brought up knife crime, not me.

And I’m not sure how it’s relevant who I’ve protected and in what capacity - my point about protection was, it’s still using a gun to hurt or to kill.

Ok but then where do you draw the line? Would you allow them to pretend to stab something to death? Would you allow them to pretend to kick something to death? Would you allow them to pretend to torture one of their toys

In my experience, of which I have a fair amount, children who are at the age to use imaginary play don't have the same concept of death as an adult. Most don't get the finality of death and running around pretending to shoot things isn't about "killing" as such. Same with swords, yes, little ones pretend to stab each other with swords but they just don't realise at that age what it would really mean. They're just having fun, as children have done for centuries. I've not come across a child attempting to torture a toy, but we learn about medieval/pirate torture at quite a young age. We've role played in the classroom with stocks and other weaponry like catapults and cannons. Children love then goriness of history.

I find by the time a child is old enough to realise that guns = death they are past the imaginary play stage anyway, so wouldn't be torturing toys or playing at stabbing things. They're usually happy to shoot a NERF gun or play a video game because they realise it isn't going to harm anyone.

and that's you own opinion which I don't see anyone has contested...so what is the point of your argument?

My argument is people are suggesting I don’t let my son play with guns because I’m worried he’ll kill someone. That’s not true, which I’ve pointed out.

Breastpump, I’m afraid. Not shotgun.

Breastpump, I’m afraid. Not shotgun

@Pumperthepumper then you must be the only one who doesn't understand....don't worry, winter will be here soon for you to be even more of a snowflake than now.

@Pumperthepumper then you must be the only one who doesn't understand....don't worry, winter will be here soon for you to be even more of a snowflake than now.

No, please do give me more examples of things you allow your kid to do now so that he doesn’t do it when he’s older. I’d so love to understand the logic of it.

I find by the time a child is old enough to realise that guns = death they are past the imaginary play stage anyway, so wouldn't be torturing toys or playing at stabbing things. They're usually happy to shoot a NERF gun or play a video game because they realise it isn't going to harm anyone.

Yes, that’s totally fair and I understand your point.

@Pumperthepumper

what I allow and don't allow my sons to do is down to me and their mother and has no bearing on any opinion you may have of it, ok? however for your record whatever they do is always done safely and under my or their mother supervision.
If you CANT understand THAT then re-read my posts, break it down with ruler if you have to, but I seriously think you got the wrong end of the stick, either that, or you just enjoy trolling.

Enjoy your weekend everyone, I'm off shooting this weekend with my boy in bisley! weh-hay!!

No, please do give me more examples of things you allow your kid to do now so that he doesn’t do it when he’s older. I’d so love to understand the logic of it.

Our kids can drink beer at home. I was allowed to drink at home, it meant I didn’t go crazy as a teenager at parties

TacticalDad this whole thing was in response to you saying I should let my son play with guns now so he doesn’t join a gang when he’s older. I’m guessing you can’t come up with any further examples of ‘what you let your kid do now so they won’t do it when they’re older’ because you know it’s a nonsense argument.