I am an Army veteran and grew up in a time when every kid had a “Fanner 50” cap gun and holster, we played quickdraw in the driveway and had “shootouts” with passing cars. Toy guns were everywhere and we never killed each other.
I actually used to wince when somebody got punched on Hoppalong Casidy, and even as a young soldier, I recoiled at the idea of killing another human being. I’m not at all sure that the depictions of violence in the 1950’s desensitized us to violence. Modern day TV and movie violence surely is a lot more graphic.
I took my Fanner 50 and holster to school in the second grade when we were allowed to bring a special Christmas present to show....No problem...
I also used to draw against Matt Dillon at the beginning of “Gunsmoke” each Sunday night...(I beat him too!!!!)