General Chat

I played with cap guns when I was small...but then that was in the age of cowboys and indians films - so it was all part of a different role play. I had fun - along with practically every other child in my area but it was a toy and nothing else. I didn't grow up to be a gun toting thug! There is so much going on these days with regard to gun crime that the emphasis has shifted. Toy guns are more like replicas these days and that in itself can cause huge problems when they are used as an alternative to real guns by adults. Personally I feel that a cowboy outfit needs a six gun...a soldiers outfit, a machine gun or a rifle. A child's imagination in role play is a wonderful thing and shouldn't be stunted by not having the right 'props'. We all have a responsibility to inform our children of the dangers of guns and to make them aware of gun crime as they get older but the little ones...who have no concept of danger or mortality when they play? - why ban them? How many people who want toy guns banned also restrict television and computer games? There are far greater areas of concern there. Magsxx

Good points Andy, this is why I put it on here. Linda I think we have a mall/female split here. Goes back to the hunter gatherer v the home maker.

i think its fine. i played with guns when i was a kid and then i joined the army where i had a real one for 15 years. it never made me want to break the law and become a menace to society! i think some people are simply disturbed no matter how they were brought up, its that simple.

Mags, I had a gun many moons ago and I don't think it made me such a bad person. Even if a boy doesn't have a gun he will still play cowboys or soldiers, and emulate a gun with his fingers. Children realise that they are playing a game, I never thought that it was real. Derek.

ok well .. your husband is right isnt he... it never did him any harm .. and it certainly did me no harm .. cept i went onto join the army, .. was that cos i used to play with plastic guns and go .. bang bang??? no i dont think so. YOU. . can never and will never be able to stop the odd mad man who goes on a shooting spree.. and i have never ever heard of one claiming it was because he used to play with toy guns when he was 3 or 4. I would be more worried if they were playing with matches or stealing knives out of the kitchen drawer!! Andy

Thanks girls, now I know I am not loopy.

Hi Andy, No they do not, you are quite safe. Magazine has run an article saying it is ok. As pro childcarer I need to know whether I am going over the top when I say no to games of bang bang you are dead. Hubby says it never did him any harm, but times have changed in ther last 900 years and just wondered what the word on the street was. Mags

Don't like to see kids with toy guns...they don't understand why but the parents should then it's up to them...but I wouldn't let any of my kids 'play' with them personaly.

i know i would not let my children play with guns

lol .. well here is my comment Mags .. errrrrrrm .. why ask??? Do your children have access to guns?

Need to know opinion of lots of people as very imotive topic.