Gun Violence: Is There a Link to Childhood Toy Guns?

[jmra]

I know when we were kids if we didn't happen to have a toy gun handy we would fashion one out of a stick or if push came to shove we used our hands. Who didn't play cowboys and Indians. Not a single person I played cowboys and Indians with growing up turned into a criminal.

[rbwhatever1]

Toy guns had no ill effect on me, my children or anybody I know. We went to great lengths when "shot" to fall over dead if we were feeling generous. If not we would fire back stating vehemently that we were "winged" or "missed" completely. I think we understood at a very young age that shooting someone with a real firearm would kill them.

The 10 incidents listed in the article are absurd and not merely an overreach by well meaning aduts. These acts exist only to indotrinate our children that all things related to, or even looking like a firearm equals evil. Apparently the word "gun" is an evil "no-no" as well. I disagree these administrators mean well.

[suthdj]

I never bought toy guns for my first two kid's they ended up just using legos or sticks there is no keeping toy guns from a child's hands and imagination.

[Oldgringo]

I know when we were kids if we didn't happen to have a toy gun handy we would fashion one out of a stick or if push came to shove we used our hands. Who didn't play cowboys and Indians. Not a single person I played cowboys and Indians with growing up turned into a criminal.

...uh, that I know of.

[Selina Kyle]

I played with toy guns & played first person shooter games. I have never been a violent person. It's not in my nature.

[cb1000rider]

I wouldn't think there is a link either, but I really don't know.
What I do know, is that sometimes kids with what "look" like guns aren't afforded the same chances as unarmed kids. To me, that makes it very dangerous to give a child (of any age) what appears to be a firearm.
Kids playing with these in the woods while an officer drives by.. oh man, I don't want any part of that.

[RoyGBiv]

IMO, repressing natural tenancies (making boys conform to a 100% non-violent, non-physical, "norm", to the exclusion of traditional "male" activities involving roughhousing, impact games, games that involve expressing/achieving a social hierarchy, etc., etc. ) is more likely to manifest itself in negative behaviors than will playing with toy guns.

It's not just about the physical expression either. We're raising our children on rewarding failure. Every snowflake gets a participation trophy. If a kid is 16 years old the first time he experiences the reality of failure (or rejection), you have an nearly-adult physical capability combined with a childlike capability to process the emotions of failure... because they've never been allowed to experience failure before.... They've never been allowed to develop the coping skills or the maturity to overcome obstacles or rejection..... Is anyone surprised that so many of these teenage mass killers fit such a similar profile?

[Selina Kyle]

IMO, repressing natural tenancies (making boys conform to a 100% non-violent, non-physical, "norm", to the exclusion of traditional "male" activities involving roughhousing, impact games, games that involve expressing/achieving a social hierarchy, etc., etc. ) is more likely to manifest itself in negative behaviors than will playing with toy guns.

It's not just about the physical expression either. We're raising our children on rewarding failure. Every snowflake gets a participation trophy. If a kid is 16 years old the first time he experiences the reality of failure (or rejection), you have an nearly-adult physical capability combined with a childlike capability to process the emotions of failure... because they've never been allowed to experience failure before.... They've never been allowed to develop the coping skills or the maturity to overcome obstacles or rejection..... Is anyone surprised that so many of these teenage mass killers fit such a similar profile?