I find nothing wrong with boys having a toy gun.  Our son has a variety of styles - some are futuristic "laser" looking guns, a pretend shot gun and he has a few Old West style guns too.  Our rule is he can't aim at people and he usually runs around aiming at things in the house.   If you have a Bass Pro or Cabela's or Sportsman's Wearhouse they all have a nice little selection of toy guns.

jrgirl Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:55 PM

My 3 year old son wants one.  IMO I see nothing wrong with it.  We are, though, a law enforcement family so he is aware of what guns can do.  Obviuosly at 3 he is still a little immature to understand but his wanting one makes him think he is like dad....a hero as he calls him. 

RandJsmom Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:04 PM

Better to teach them early about guns, especially if like in our house we have quite a few!  They are going to learn about them and better to learn from you.  But the other thing is that he is just 5 and I see nothing wrong with playing as long as you set the rules like JRGIRL said.  I know I always played Cowboys and Indians (and no comments about this game, I am 1/2 Cherokee!)  or good guy/bad guy growing up and I'm just fine.  I've always had a healthy respect for guns because I was taught at an early age, which I think is extremely important in this day and age!

first-one Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:07 PM

We know at our house that we shoot stuff, not people or animals. Great for coordination skills- my son is quite the shot.

HistoryMamaX3 Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:25 PM

My children will not be having toy guns. In my opinion, guns ARE NOT toys and shouldnt be thought of as such. That being said... if you want to buy him one and feel comfortable with it, by all means, get it! Im sure he will be super excited! :D

AmandaIVF Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:38 PM

I am a supporter of the right to bear arms. Wholeheartedly. My father is both a hunter and a gun collector. I was taught to shoot and shoot straight before I was 10 years old. Holidays often include hanging out on the backside of the property target shooting.

HOWEVER, I do NOT believe that children should be given toy guns. I have a girl now but neither she nor any future boy I have will ever have one. Guns are NOT toys and anything resembling a gun used as a toy promotes confusion in children. None of the 4 of us (I'm the oldest of 4) ever laid a hand on my dad's guns without permission and supervision. Why? Guns aren't toys and aren't to be played with. We were never given toy guns to play with at anytime.

But that said...your kid...your decision...

mrsfitz05 Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:49 PM

I have two year old twin boys and I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I certainly don't believe that guns are toys so the idea of a "toy gun" seems like an oxymoron to me.

Water guns are certainly fun. I think I'd stick to those. They only need come out at summer time.

twinclubmom Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:50 PM

I have to agree with the, "Toys are not guns". We're not an anti-gun family, (we do not own any though) and my husband wants to take our daughter(when she is older) to the gun range and learn how to shoot a gun, but both of us agree that guns are not toys and shouldn't be seen as such.

lizzeh Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:52 PM

I'm not anti-guns, but I'm anti- guns-as-toys.
Children need to be taught the proper perspective for weapons.

ap.sahm Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:00 PM

I'm Pro-Nerf and Super Soaker! :) The more realistic kind, not so much.

KatieCrandall Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:16 PM