Toy gun in the park

[Applesandbananaz]

I was in the play park today with my two pre-school aged children when 2 older boys came in with a toy gun. I am not sure what type it was, but it ran out of ammunition after around 20 minutes of play. (I am guessing a BB type but I'm no expert)

They looked to be primary aged (but were there without their parents) and were engaged in a game of hiding around the play park and then shooting at each other, until the pellets ran out.

AIBU to have felt very uncomfortable? When I left, I spoke to one of the boys and asked him not to bring a gun to the park again as it wasn't appropriate with small children about. Did I do the right thing? I feel quite disturbed by it and am not sure if I should have intervened sooner, or am I just overreacting because of the events over the summer?

Was it clearly a toy gun, like a nerf gun or something like that?

If so, then I think you are overreacting.

Why isn't it appropriate?

Definitely not a nerf gun. Loud bang when it went off and looked like a proper handgun, not a toy

Sounds like a fun game to me. I want to play!

I don't see why it wasn't appropriate?

I mean, you could've asked them to take it away from the swings and slides etc, but asking them not to bring it to the park made you sound silly.

So an imitation gun that fired pellets, no that's not an appropriate toy to use in public at all.

Not sure what I think, but I just googled toy guns and if they were my kids I’d be worried the police might get the wrong idea and shoot them. They’re scarily realistic.

Ahhh a cap gun!

Totally safe then as they don't actually fire anything.

I had one in the 70s and loved it. I think I would've been totally bemused at a random telling me not to bring it to the park! 🤭

Gah ok I overreacted - for one I didn't want either myself of my children to get hit with a BB pellet - it wasn't obviously a child's toy gun if that makes sense

That's happened before in American but it's not far fetched to think it could happen else where.

Did they leave any mess behind?
That would be an issue for me.

But the playing with toy guns in play park isn't a problem.

I’m surprised the kids parents didn’t have something to say about you telling their kids what they should or shouldn’t bring to the park.

Maybe it was a spud gun 🔫. Are they still a thing or am I showing my age?

You did the right thing op, anything firing a pellet is fine at home in their own garden but not for the park or in public.

UK toy guns have a bright orange tip to show they're toys.

They're not imitation fire arms.

Personally I don't think any toy guns (or any toy weapons) are appropriate and I'm surprised that parents still buy them. Surely we should not be teaching or encouraging our children to simulate the act of killing and maiming other living things. But I guess I'm going to be the outlier and weirdo on this thread.

If it was a BB gun then actually I think you are right to have a word. BB's can properly hurt people at close range and can damage eyes etc quite badly.

Nerf guns and things like that are fine, BB guns which look like actual guns and fire hard pellets I think are a bit ropey in public areas.

Haha I think I'm also a fellow weirdo - I was very uncomfortable. I will leave quietly next time as

All black

I know parents who wouldn't buy their sons guns
The boys just made sticks, pens, trains... anything into guns they would point at each other and shout bang

You don't have to give them toy guns for them to pretend to kill each other. It's what kids have played since forever. Being dashing heroes against wicked foes... the eternal battle of good vs evil

I have three boys and I absolutely agree with this. I think it's weirder that it's normalised. It's odd to me that we're the weird ones tbh

OP, if you'd posted asking "aibu to let my two unsupervised children play with a pellet or BB gun in a play park where there are pre-school children" everyone would be outraged.

Can't believe people are telling you that you're overreacting.

Quote from the Web:

"Though they are significantly less powerful than real firearms, non-powder guns such as BB or air guns can be deadly, and should be regulated as such. Non-powder guns, such as BB and air guns, are not toys—they kill and injure thousands of people each year, including children and teenagers."

Even nerf guns can be dangerous if you're hit in the eye. Play at your own risk, not round a bunch of small children.