The Controversial Kids' Toy - The Hand Gun

With summer in full swing the occasional water fight is inevitable. The activity is an excellent way to keep cool, especially when the temperature climbs close to 100 degrees fahrenheit. There are an array of tools that can be used in these water fights such as cups, water balloons and pumps. Still, the most common tool for a water fight is probably the water pistol. 

Who doesn't remember the epic super soaker battles that commenced on those scorching summer days? They where colorful. They had an air pump. They were cheap. Still, with the seemingly increasing amount of child shooters, some worry that toy guns will encourage children to use a real gun, or other forms of violence against their friends and family. 

According to one article, "Everyone has an informal causation theory that playing with guns leads to the use of guns in adulthood," says Michael Thompson, PhD, child psychologist and author of It's a Boy! Your Son's Development From Birth to Age 18. Yet, most adult men who did engage in gunplay as children don't commit violent crimes."

Although studies may show no correlation between toy gun play as a child and adulthood, that does not ease the worry some may have about the link between toy gun play and real gun violence in children. Arguably speaking, even if toy gun play doesn't encourage aggressive behavior, it may encourage ignorance.

It's a child's job to play. Besides water pistols, toy soldiers, cop and cowboy dress up sets also come with guns. Some of them even come complete with the satisfying pop, pop, pop and smoke of dud "bullets." Toy guns make kids feel heroic and brave when most kids feel small and helpless. At the very least, kids just like to hear the noise it makes. That being said, the worry is that a child may think that a gun is an acceptable way to solve problems against people they see as aggressors. 

The argument around having real guns in a house where children live is that parents are taking precautions to protect their families. Gun safes, supervised handling and educational talks are only a few ways gun advocates are trying to keep the family guns out of little hands. But, with more and more shootings in the news, the worry only seems to grow. 

The sight of a child pointing a toy gun at another child, or themselves and pulling the trigger is alarming. Memories of twenty elementary kids shot dead along with their teacher is enough for most parents to hide all kinds of toy guns from their kids for all eternity. On the other side of the spectrum, some parents say that that is an overreaction that may be causing more harm than good. 

In the wake of all these child shooters, schools have been issuing severe penalties for any signs of aggression such as play shooting that they see from children. Some are arguing that kids will be kids and that it was "just play." Although most kids show no indication of any other violent or worrying behavior when it comes to gun play, the idea of a child making a gun out of their fingers and shooting their friends is "just play" is absurd. Suspending a fourth grader for his finger gun may be an overreaction, but not having an in-depth and easily understood conversation about why that action is not allowed is equally wrong. 

To eliminate the ignorance around toy gun play parents need to sit down with their child and explain what guns are for and what they do to people when they are used. Children as young as one-years-old can use a toy gun. It may be hard to have a meaningful conversation with them about the damages of guns. If that's the case, hold off on the toy guns until they can understand. 

What it comes down to is that guns are not dangerous. People are. A gun in the hand of the right person can save a life. A gun in the hands of the wrong person can take a life. With that thought in mind, guns are not toys. They are tools. And you wouldn't let your child run around with an electric drill without teaching them how to use it first, now would you?