To think that these shouldn't be in shops.

[Cronesquerness]

Out shopping today I saw for sale and aimed at kids, realistic looking knives, offered for sale as Halloween props. In the neighbouring aisles are actual knives which we have to be eighteen or over to buy. The halloween knives look pretty much like real knives and if I open my door to big kids trick or treating and they wave one of those around in the dark I'm not going to know it's a toy knife because it looks like my big knife in the kitchen. Is giving little kids one of these as part of their halloween costume a bad thing? I think so. AIBU to think that these should not be in the shops with the kids' halloween costumes? and what's with the horror / violence themed halloween stuff?

I think the costume and age of the child will help you identify if the threat is real.

Do you live in a area where armed children are commonplace?

With risk of sounding hysterical I completely agree. I think all toy knives, guns etc are poor choice of play thing. I was standing in a queue at a toy shop a few weeks back and a young boy no older than 7 was aiming a toy gun at his mother in the queue going “bang dead”. Anyway I’ve gone off track here. YANBU

I actually hate the fact Halloween has become synonymous with horror. Surely for children pumpkins, ghosts, witches, devils, vampires amd bats are pretty much your repertoire? Serial killers and gore in general are unnecessary.

Agree with @longestlurkerever , no need for the horror and weapons, kids have plenty opportunity to realise the world is full of it in adulthood! Though I'm not one for hallowe'en now at all, whatever happened to apple bobbing and the like ??

YANBU

Im pretty blase about giving children weapons as they make their own out of lego etc anyway.
I would be more worried about realistic knives being sold to older children or teens who could use them to bully their peers .

Do you live in a area where armed children are commonplace?

I do (sadly) and I agree with the OP

Some of the knives look so realistic and some of the trick or treaters wear little more than a hood and a horror mask.

I'm mostly talking about kids aged 12 plus though.

I think it's irresponsible of retailers to stock knives to be used for trick or treating, trick or treaters can be menacing enough without the added knife, whether the blade is made from metal or plastic. With knife crime the way it is currently, selling these knives seems even more sinister, will it normalise carrying a knife even more if kids use them trick or treating and I'm not sure how to put this, but if they use them in order to persuade people to give them sweets or money on halloween, there are many negative and dangerous roads that carrying a toy knife can lead a kid.

Perhaps highlight your concerns to the retailers head office.
No guarantee you'll get anywhere BUT if you don't try you definitely won't make a difference.

With the current situation around the UK YADNBU! During trick or treating season, if a teen/young boy (or girl) runs at you at your door with a realistic knife you’re going to assume it’s real