Holiday dream toy? Modern-day BB gun is no such thing

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | December 12, 2003 | Rebecca Thoman

[jdege]

day dream toy? Modern-day BB gun is no such thing

Rebecca Thoman
Published December 12, 2003

A boy's Christmas wish list that includes BB or pellet guns is a parent's worst nightmare. One look at contemporary pellet guns, named and modeled after their grown-up counterparts, the Uzi semiautomatic or the Magnum .44, should convince any parent that these "toys" are not what they used to be.

Modern BB guns are nothing like the wooden-stock rifles of 1938, the kind yearned for by Ralphie in the holiday classic, "A Christmas Story." Eighty percent of BB guns on the market today attain muzzle velocities (the speed at which the projectile leaves the barrel of the gun) high enough to penetrate bone. More than half meet or exceed the muzzle velocity of pistols.

[...]

The newest fad in pellet guns is the airsoft replicas, realistic Glock and Beretta lookalikes. Replicgun.com, a Web site that sells these toys boasts, "the real thing without the danger." But consider these incidents:

[...]

Giving a child a toy gun that looks real could be placing him in danger, especially when these contemporary replicas look more like the semiautomatics assault rifles packed by street thugs than the hunting rifles of yesteryear.

According to Dr. Farideh Kioumehr-Dadsetan of the Internaional Health and Epidemiology Research Center, "Giving our kids toy guns and telling them to stay away from the real thing sends a mixed message."

She urges children and parents to swap their toy guns for other nonviolent options.

[...]

Dr. Rebecca Thoman is executive director of the St. Paul-based Citizens for a Safer Minnesota Education Fund.

[jdege]

You'll shoot your eye out!

[jdege]

Bang!

[2banana]

contemporary replicas look more like the semiautomatics assault rifles packed by street thugs

No bias here...

[RebelBanker]

She urges children and parents to swap their toy guns for other nonviolent options.

Like dolls, maybe? The war on masculinity continues.

[arkady_renko]

contemporary replicas look more like the semiautomatics assault rifles packed by street thugs

At least she got the 'semi' in there. Usually they don't get that right.

[cyclotic]

What an idiot (Clinical definition-Idiot-Adult with a developmental age of 4-12)

Yes, the airgun market is growing, with a number of high tech, high end airguns. Also high priced and designed for adult COMPETITIVE SHOOTING.

The retail segment of airguns is still loaded with lower velocity models like the Daisy Red Ryder. (I just bought a Red Ryder for my kids for Christmas)

An airgun makes a wonderful gift for children. It will give me an outlet for spending time with the kids in a organized, safe activity. Allows them to begin enjoying the shooting sports in the backyard for free instead of at the range for $10.00/hour and to practice safety as they mature.

[Maceman]

You'll shoot your eye out!

[weegee]

"Giving our kids toy guns and telling them to stay away from the real thing sends a mixed message."

Hey, Doc! Giving kids REAL condoms and telling them not to mess around sends them a mixed message too.

[GovernmentShrinker]

It's an idiotic article, but I agree that "toy" guns which are capable of causing very serious harm are not a smart thing to give to a kid. Much better to give the kid a real gun, and start seriously teaching him/her how to use it responsibly. Giving an excited kid a "toy" gun is an invitation to go out and play with it impulsively, which is not a smart thing to be doing with these relatively high powered models.

[holdmuhbeer]

dang you beat me to it.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The Columbine mass murder was brought to us courtesy of Gun-Free School Zones.

Don't ever forget it.

[Ancesthntr]

Based on this article, there isn't even a BB gun in the house, let alone a real one, so this woman and her family are prime targets for a home invasion. Were I a criminal type living in her area, I'd find out where this bliss ninny lives and rob the house while someone was there.

[TLI]

She urges children and parents to swap their toy guns for other nonviolent options.

Ok, motorcycle, mini-bike, computer camp, enrollment in the BSA, REAL shooting lessons at the local range, Martial arts class, etc.

Where is it written that Christmas gifts are plastic junk from china?

[Pete'sWife]

We bought our son a paintball gun. He can shoot the deer that invade our yard to eat the hedges.

Additionally, we'll go to the paintball field come spring, and have a great time!

Take THAT, you lily-livered Metrosexuals!!!

[holdmuhbeer]

my 9 year old shoots the .22 instead of a bb gun. he knows he's only allowed to shoot when dads around. he also shot the .20 gauge at some clays the other day.

[cars for sale]

a medal for you sir...logic is your forte'

[Xenalyte]

[bullseye1911]

Giving a child a toy gun that looks real could be placing him in danger, especially when these contemporary replicas look more like the semiautomatics assault rifles packed by street thugs than the hunting rifles of yesteryear.

What an absolute idiot. That being said, I never let my kids have a bb gun! or a cap gun for that matter. I did not want them to ever use them or think of them as toys!. The carrot was a .22 of their own(with supervision)when I was comfortable with their safety and proficiency. 10yrs. old with my daughter. 8 with my son.

[jdege]

A non-violent toy ... like this?

[big_Rob]

Buy him a 30-30 and he can not only save the hedges, but host a BBQ. Hmmmmm, venison....