Gun Free – Just for December
I heard on the radio this morning that Gun Free SA is campaigning to have toy guns removed from store shelves over the December period, due to toy guns sending out a message to kids that it is ok to use a gun to get your way. An admirable step, in some peoples minds I’m sure.
The first thing that sprung to mind was “where are the parents?”. I grew up around toy guns, waterpistols, little plastic soldier figurines, and a working knowledge of ‘Capture-the-flag’ by the age of 6. I however, am not running around thinking its OK to point a gun at someone. I don’t even own a firearm. I have all the application forms, however I am still weighing up the pros and cons of owning a firearm (as I have been doing for 6 months now), because I do not in any way believe it is a decision to be taken lightly.
I used to be threatened with a serious hiding if I even pointed a toy gun at someone. That way I knew, you point a gun at someone, prepare to face serious consequences (a hiding at age 6 is a serious consequence, particularly when it is delivered by a spoon).
Then the next thing. Just for December. JUST, for December. So, following on from the first point, at any other time of the year, ie birthdays, play dates etc, its fine, kids will absolutely not get any ideas from playing with toy guns. I don’t know about you, but something sounds fishy here.
I reckon that this is blatant shock advertising for GFSA. Guns are bad. Safes are good. Parents teaching their kids to not shoot anyone to get their way, that’s right.
Leave the toy guns on the shelves. Rather educate the parents and the children. I can’t believe I’m going to say this line (because I disagree with the organisation that says it, with a completely opposite argument for another time), but…
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
Actually, bullets kill people, and sometimes a lack of blood, or missing pieces of critical organs. I suppose if you pistol whipped somebody severely enough that could kill them…