Should kids play with toy guns?

Elisa (No)

While there is nothing inherently wrong with people owning guns as adults, we should be more careful about treating guns as toys in any situation. In fact, turning guns into toys can teach children not to take them seriously. While parents are split on the topic, parents are dismissing logic when it comes to fake weapons. 

Jonathan Zimmerman writes, ‘A few years ago Walmart stopped selling candy cigarettes, which had led generations of American youngsters into a very bad habit. There’s strong evidence that children who use candy imitations become heavier cigarette smokers later in life. But Walmart still carries imitation guns, which can also put kids–and many others–in mortal danger. It’s time to ask every merchant of fake weapons to cease and desist.’

Many see toy guns as harmless fun, but most kids are not fully aware of the concept of death, nor do they understand the power of guns when they are aimlessly playing with them. In fact, police have mistakenly viewed toy guns as real guns, leading to dangerous and even deadly altercations. Besides, toy guns have injured people just as real guns have, and they hold no educational value on the proper use of guns. 

The point is that parents need to deeply consider the ramifications of toy guns, especially if they own guns in the home. This parenting guide gives tips on approaching toy guns and discussing them with children. The author’s son boldly stated, ‘I know guns hurt people. Why would I want to play with something that is about hurting people? I have no interest in that.’ Ultimately, guns should never be viewed as toys—they are tools for adults and adults only. 

Mark (Yes)

Kids playing with toy guns has proven to be virtually harmless in a playful setting. Case in point, there have been no conclusive studies to prove that playing with toy guns can cause children to develop violent tendencies. In fact, studies have actually shown that the opposite is true. Research has shown that in simulating gunplay, children are actually able to make a clearer discernment between real and imaginary violence. We develop instinctual abilities from a young age, and children are often underestimated in terms of having a fundamental understanding of right and wrong. 

Playing with toy guns allows children to become more conscientious and regulate their behavior. Often, when privileged with greater autonomy, children develop a more responsible decision-making process. Playing with toy guns also stimulates creativity in children and allows them to use their imagination. It’s precisely this sort of mental stimulation and assimilation that can develop potential work skills for children. It also allows children to assign roles to one another and work together instead of pursuing an agenda at the expense of others.

In modern society, it’s essential to be cognizant of how children perceive guns. Using them as toys subtly suggests that they are innocuous props for the play. If children weren't allowed to play with toy guns, they may come to have an unhealthy and potentially dangerous fascination with them. It’s often the things we are initially forbidden to have that we come to desire most. Therefore, children not allowed to play with guns could seek them out as adults, equating them with a sense of power and fear.