Kids playing guns - can we discuss? (Page 2)

My $0.02. I would bet that even in ancient China, two little boys picked up sticks and started pretending they were swords. Boys pick up anything and pretend it's a gun. The Nerf thing is harmless.

Video games where you shoot and kill people probably have a worse impact.

I understand your concern, but I think you're ok there.

Stirring the pot a bit here - but curious on the bolded point.

How is it so different?

I ask because after consulting with my sister, I bought my nephews a Call of Duty (Black Ops 2?) game for their Xbox for Christmas. They had asked for it, and supposedly the game has options where you can turn down or off the blood/guts stuff. My sister, who is typically pretty anti all of this stuff, is perfectly okay with it (which surprised me a little) after learning about the parent options. The boys are 9 and 12 if that makes a difference.

They play "pew pew pew" games with neighborhood kids every day, including one called "Hunger Games" - which is exactly what you'd think it is if you've seen the movie. I'm struggling to figure out how acting this stuff out in real life is better than doing it on screen?

So when they shoot each other with the nerf guns, are they just play-wounding? Not play-killing? Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand.

I also echo what everyone has said.

To expand on the point above, I had a friend in high school, who's brother was over at a friends house.  They decided they were going to play with a shotgun, thinking it was not loaded.  Well, you guessed it, it was loaded and went off, shooting my friends brother.  I believe it was a buckshot, and he had a lot of them in him.  He ended up fine.  Although you may never have a real gun in your house, it's still best to educate your children about them and the harm they can do.  It's best not to  shield them from them, real (educating) and toy (playing with them).

I have two boys, 6 & 7, and they play guns, swords, etc.  I try to tell them not to point them at people, etc.  We watch some movies together that may have some sword fights, etc, but they know what is real and what isn't, and we educate them on the difference, and always make the point that real guns, swords, knives, etc can harm/hurt people.  They are good to separate reality from play/movie.  I do not want them playing FPS video games, probably EVER, as I see those as being far worse.

When I was younger, we played guns, etc all the time.  Cowboys and Indians, etc.  I had a full army uniform from the local surplus, complete with helmet, water bottle, fatigues, back pack and everything.  We spent hours in the woods playing army, guns, etc.

And, I've never owned a gun.  Although I've considered one for protection as an adult, I go back and forth whether I want one in my house or not.  I feel if I get one, I will have to tell my kids about it and teach them about it.  I'm not sure I"m ready for that.