Boys and guns

[thebailiffs]

Hello-

I wanted to see what other mommies think about boys and guns. I have had many traumatic experiences with guns (seen them pulled on people, seen animals killed with them, etc..)over my life time so I am very sensitive about guns.

But here is the real pictures I see, ALL boys love guns.  They love to run and play with them and pretend to shoot them.They want toys with guns.

I even had a Psychologist tell me that all boys are fascinated with guns.

Where and when do they become realistic about them?

[callansmomma]

It has to do with the Y Chromosome is all I can figure.  We are anti gun at our house yet my son still wants to play with them.  He does not have any.  He makes guns out of his fingers, other toys, straws, etc.  It is rather annoying.  I am not sure how to stop it. 

[thebailiffs]

That is exactly what I am talking about.  At times he will be holding no gun, but he creates one with his fingers and makes the noise with his mouth.

[TristansMom440]

I don't have an answer, but here's a "bump".  I seriously do believe that boys are just wired to like things that blow up or go "pow".  I can already tell that my 2 yo is turning out this way, but I don't know how to stop it.

[MaMas06]

 Funny, I kept all toy guns outta my house until one day I decided to get my Son and cousins squirt guns thus starting something I wasn't too thrilled about. (I got rid of them) Then lo and behold my DH gets him laser guns 'cos Son loves all things that have to do w/space ships and Star Wars. So he has those still but I agree that boys somehow find a way to "play guns" (Btw, he's only 3 right now)

I say, we as parents, need to educate them so that if they ever see a real gun (God forbid!) and not feel scared or know what to do in an event as such. Too many children die ea. yr. and all it takes is a serious talk about gun control and how to not play w/guns no matter what. AND keeping guns locked up too! It can most def. save a life.

[MichelleMc]

Wow I am so amazed at how many people are anti Gun. That is very scary to me & very very sad. Hiding the guns or trying to keep kids away from guns is more dangerous than having the guns. Most of the accidental shootings are because kids have found guns either in their own house or a friends house because everyone thinks they can hide guns from kids.

We have MANY MANY guns in our house. My son does USPSA shooting ( pistol ), just finish a 22 rifle shooting team, goes on gun shoots monthly with my husband & helps with the Boy Scout shooting when troops want to shoot. He was just asked to be the Helper Counsellor for shooting sports at the boy scout summer camp.

The best thing you can do, is quit being so scared of the guns. The more scared you are, the more freaked out you are going to be. THe kids pick up on that. To some, it is funny to freak you out, so some they don't get why, etc. There is nothing wrong with guns or having guns in the house. It is stupidity of some people & other people being terrified of guns which is more dangerous.

My son, who knows uses guns on a weekly basis at 14, never pointed guns, never did half the things I am hearing on here. He was shown & understood guns. It wasn't evil, as they aren't evil & shouldn't be treated as evil/bad things.

My husband is an NRA certified instructor & teacher. He also teaches to young kids about guns, what to do, what not to do without being freaked out with the kids. You never touch it & you get someone. Every gun should  be thought to be real etc. I have more of an issue with fake guns than I do with real guns. We didn't have "fake" guns in our house as that is a confusing message to kids.

[thebailiffs]

I am not scared of guns. I have had many experiences with guns, meaning I have experience shotting  them in the past.  I just do not feel that young child (children under the age of 10 years old) should have/use/pretent to use them.

I was asking if other boys 'pretend" play  with fake guns.

[MichelleMc]

My son started with 22's at age 7. Under 10 is just fine.

I also did answer that mine didn't play with fake guns.

I was talking to all those that were very straight forward about being Anti gun or scared of guns.

[milesmom2005]

I always said we would never have our son play with guns.  He is now 4 1/2 and i have finally given up the fight.  I think you are right that it is in their DNA to want to run and shoot and play swords.   My son DOES know that guns are bad and what he is doing is pretend play.  Can't get away from it, boys love guns

[callansmomma]

We aren't scared of them.  Our reasoning is that we don't want him to think a gun is a toy. It isn't.  It is meant to hurt or kill someone or something.  Husband is Air force and shoots expert.  We have talked about one day having a gun in the house then our son would learn how to shoot.  I grew up with guns in the house.  We knew they weren't toys.

Quoting MichelleMc:

Wow I am so amazed at how many people are anti Gun. That is very scary to me & very very sad. Hiding the guns or trying to keep kids away from guns is more dangerous than having the guns. Most of the accidental shootings are because kids have found guns either in their own house or a friends house because everyone thinks they can hide guns from kids.

We have MANY MANY guns in our house. My son does USPSA shooting ( pistol ), just finish a 22 rifle shooting team, goes on gun shoots monthly with my husband & helps with the Boy Scout shooting when troops want to shoot. He was just asked to be the Helper Counsellor for shooting sports at the boy scout summer camp.

The best thing you can do, is quit being so scared of the guns. The more scared you are, the more freaked out you are going to be. THe kids pick up on that. To some, it is funny to freak you out, so some they don't get why, etc. There is nothing wrong with guns or having guns in the house. It is stupidity of some people & other people being terrified of guns which is more dangerous.

My son, who knows uses guns on a weekly basis at 14, never pointed guns, never did half the things I am hearing on here. He was shown & understood guns. It wasn't evil, as they aren't evil & shouldn't be treated as evil/bad things.

My husband is an NRA certified instructor & teacher. He also teaches to young kids about guns, what to do, what not to do without being freaked out with the kids. You never touch it & you get someone. Every gun should  be thought to be real etc. I have more of an issue with fake guns than I do with real guns. We didn't have "fake" guns in our house as that is a confusing message to kids.

[blhmek]

im not a big fan of guns either. reaility is my i have a son. he watches alot of t.v and thats just what he sees. however, i dont give toy guns as gifts because i know parents ae funny about that.