Should every boy be allowed to have a toy gun?

Question

When I was a little boy, my dad wouldn't allow a toy gun in the house. I still resent him for it this very day.

Answer 1

Every child should. With the basics of safety and marksmanship taught at the same time.

The difference between pretend and reality should be made clear.

Start them out target shooting early with heavy emphasis on safety.

I started shooting at the age of 3 (with help), ended up teaching marksmanship in the Army and as a hunter safety instructor for many years.

Toy cars are much more dangerous than toy guns because when they graduate to the real thing they don't appreciate the fact that a car is a lethal weapon too.

Answer 2

It's only a toy gun. But for every boy to have one would not be wise. Some boys may not have arms and might find it ofensive to receive a toy gun. Other physical defects may not allow playtime for toy guns as well. Besides that teaching correct morals toy guns are no more a threat than cartoons. Kids played with real guns in say the late 19th century and early 20th. And violence wasn't rampant in say the 50's (what I call the decade of morals). Though when prohibition became rampant and alcohol was banned and people started losing freedom in the US violence became very popular. If we can just use our minds and be who we feel we are we wont have to be so defensive and feel the world is against us because they say there is no gray area only right and wrong and we are wrong by doing what we do.

Answer 3

People who get all pc over little boys playing with toy guns, either weren't born yet, or have forgotten, that some of our nation's finest men, from presidents down to standard good-ole-boys grew up playing with toy guns. Many of them grew up knowledgeable since childhood of real guns. And, thank God for those good men. They learned to be comfortable with the feel of a gun in their hands, proficient in the use of that gun, and cognizant of the responsibility that went with handling a gun. Kids now don't know the first thing about guns, and end up shooting each other because no one has taught them the proper respect for something that can put a hole the size of a saucer in you. We are protecting our children to death.

Answer 4

I think having the gun is not the issue, but rather what you are going to do with it. Someone needs to teach you gun safety (even if it is a cap gun). Also they need to talk about what guns are and that they can hurt people and things. Basically someone should be supervising you with a toy gun.

Toy guns should not be brought to school

Answer 5

I think every boy and girl who wants a toy gun should be allowed to have one. I understand the message your dad was trying to pass on to you- but I think that way of thinking is wrong.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

I agree with just about everybody here, my son grew up out in the country he wanted a BB gun, was told he had to wait till he was 12 a responsible age, to learn rules and if ever caught using wrongly it would be gone, as he got older he was taught to use the real type 22,38 etc. he grew up fine, hes 27 now.
I grew up as a cops kid, learn to shoot at 10yrs, so its all in how a child is raised.
As for your dad he did what he felt was right at the time, as many parents do. We are not prefect and we make mistakes. What we do , we do out of Love. You will do the same with your children. So remember hes the only Dad you will have, forgive &forget get on with life, its to short to sweat the small stuff.

Answer 7

OF COURSE. people overrate these things. Boys are born with that violent nature and guns and toy swords satisfy that urge. Toy guns have nothing to do with whether your kid grows up to be a killer or something, its just a toy. The way you raise your child will determine that.

Answer 8

well you might do well to learn to let go. Boys are evolved from hunters, where girls are evolved from generations of homemakers and mothering. Things are starting to change now, but that is why the issue of 'boys and guns' come up. If my son would want a gun, I would say it's ok, but if he ever play shoots people, or an animal that he is not plannign on play eating. The gun is gone

Answer 9

I have a three year old and I don't let him use toy guns. As he gets older he will be taught about guns and the proper way to use them. I don't think it's a great idea to give a kid a toy gun and let them shoot at people.

Answer 10

Yes!!! It is just in a guys nature to let him play with stuff like that. They like playing "war" and pretending that things are being blown up!!! Not letting a guy have a toy gun is kinda like not letting a girl have a doll!!!