Quote:
Originally posted by FuturePhD
It may not be my perogative what other people let their children play with, but it is my business if my child gets shot by some kid who's parents didn't teach them the difference between a real gun and a fake one.
|
I certainly don't think that 9 out of the 10 children who use a gun to kill someone thought it was fake. Case in point a three year old recently killed his police officer father . The father came home from duty and was in the kitchen with his wife. He had taken his weapon off and laid it on the table or counter. The three year old picked it up unnoticed and shot the father in the chest. The couple have another child (a five year old) and one on the way. The officer was fresh out of academy and 22 years old.
It was a mistake. Realistically we cannot think that EVERYONE will agree that allowing your child to simulate gun play is a bad thing. Again I say
My son does not play with real or toy guns but he does simulate the play with everyday toys and other things. He is being imaginative. I cannot watch him play all day long. I can control what he plays with.
This is obviously a epidemic in our communities and has been for some time. The answer is continued education in the homes and schools and monitoring of children's activities. Don't just pay attention to your own child take the time to mentor the neighborhood children too. Tell them it is not a good idea to play with guns. Tell them over and over again. My son's prekindergarten has a written policy on gun play. They say to these 3 and 4 year olds "We do not play with guns at St. XYZ Day School. Children have a large influence on their parents and if a child says to their parent "I don't want to pretend to play with guns,I would rather you buy me a toy car instead of a water gun" then you have at least saved one child from a possible accident.
I think this is a good topic and I hope that those who post and those who just read will make an effort to say to at least one child today or this week, "Guns are dangerous and I really want to see you grow up so please don't play with guns."