Toy guns. Would you allow them in your house?

[spidermama]

My DH and his two brothers were not allowed guns in the house. So desperate were they to play gun games that they used to bite their toast into gun shapes and use them.

Agree with Sally, these toys have been relegated into 'occasional interest' like all the other toys and we don't have any loo roll or lego guns! Maybe its like anything else - ban it and it becomes far more fun! (or is that just me )

Think you might be right. Although they have never shown an interest

I dont deliberately buy them, and my family know my feelings, but if they do get them or indeed make them I dont throw a hissy either- if they play nicely with them that's OK, I just wont be providing them with the things myself. An issue is never made of it, and they never seem bothered either way.

Personally, I don't like guns or any other weapons in my house. But they always find a way don't they, either with sticks or just with their hands. Thankfully ds1 didn't play like this until he went to school, but now him and dd1 try and shoot each other, it is only very rarely though!! I would most definitely not buy them a gun or sword etc.

Dh got the super soakers though when ds1 was 4. But I think these are a little different as they don't 'shoot', they just get showered!

I do get extremely pee'd off with mum's letting their 2 year old run around in the school playground with weapons while waiting to pick up their older children. Why is this necessary? Especially, as they send letters out every year asking them not to let any child take this kind of toys into school with them.

Yes, I would.

i don't like guns but we do have them in the house. Kids will play shooting/fighting etc no matter what if thats what they like doing. ds1 had a gun (bought by someone else) and wasn't interested at all, ds2, before he had a toy gun just made them out of twigs, straws, lego anything!
neither are violent kids and my brother who played with guns loads came to no harm either.

I will never buy them (and I will ask friends and relatives not to), but I fear that as Smellymelly said, they will find a way.

Dsw for a young age has used toys as pretend swords/guns etc.. dont know if it is in built in boys to an extent as for most of his childhood didnt have a tv. Anyways.. my point iwas that if he twatted me/other people/furniture/furry animals or fish tank the offending item was removed from his little grasp. We had big strops but i just repeated calmly that you dont hit things. Seems to have worked.

hijack - twinset - what dog do you have - i had gsp as child

Interetsing - I didn't think I had strong feelings till MIL gave DS (aged 20 months) a toy gun this w/e. Am really uncomfortable about it and am planning to accidentally leave it somewhere.....

yes i have and i would. i allow gun games on ps2 too.

the way to raise a person who thinks killing is wrong is by good parenting.
the way to raise a serial killer is by abusing them physically or mentally - telling them that gutting cats is ok and stick matches in their finger nails.

i also eat whole pesticidle bananas too.

Given my hobbies include war gaming and running about the woods with rubber swords and LARP safe cross bows DS will eventually be exposed to some form of weaponry (albeit 10th century) agree with previous postings, had guns when I was a kid and never went on the rampage save with waterpistols, my friends whose parents did not allow guns also used to make them from meccano, lego, wood, play doh...

edh!!! you do larp!!! COol!!!! lolol - my ds has foam stuff too - i have a staff..

my dh massacres wizards online - its a constant source of amusement to me. its like father christmas said "custy i give you the gift or p*sstake"

excellent

of*

Hi Awen are you at Renewal this summer, need to order some new stuff from the LRP store...I have to say that I'd much rather DS used LARP safe weapons than the nasty tacky plastic swords which, let's face it, hurt a lot.

I have ony recently re-entered the world of larp. Dp treid to set up games down here - his friend is keeping it going - wyverns tale. dp would love to go and it is lots of fun - might be an idea. didnt go to albion. We have a bought sword but most of i is gaffa tape and foam - even got a gaffa tape mace, shield, sword and throwing stars as well as my staff which look cool

Likewise had a few years off after moving to Mcr and yet to locate a local group had the last couple of years off as well to assist with DS (and to ensure present at his arrival!) collection of weapons is a bit down at the moment, two daggers, two swords cross bow and mace, all a bit old. Those weekends camping are my only escape out of reality works so much beter than cinema, books or TV. Ah well lunch over back to the grind.

I make judements based on how my 5 year old son plays, not what toy he plays with.

As long as he shares, takes turns, is safe and does not injure or upset his friends, he can play with a mege death ray exploding bazooka rife cannon for all I care.

We go to the park a lot and my son likes to take a collection of toy guns to give to other boys and girls so they can play army games together. As long as he follows the above rules of play, that's fine by me. I make sure the children he gets in his gang know I am keeping tabs. But I can usually read a good few pages of my current book, as the army games are very peaceful - hardly a cross work, an injury or a sulk. As yet, I have had no anti gun parents tut tut or approach me. I am waiting for this will happen, then I can share it with you on mumsnet

UN Peacekeepers maybe Tigermoth

I am with you tigermoth. When ds and I go out on forest walks etc he pretends other people are tree trolls and shoots them.. i have to admit i thinkit is funny and join in!

Not that they would be mass murderers - Just dont like PRETENDING TO KILL AND MAIM PEOPLE.Whats the fun in that?

If there are trolls mamatoto it is! jk

does anyone tell their kids its OK to gut cats? Or do they just let them play with grand theft auto and the like (ducks and runs for cover )