Posted on 11/13/2007 2:21:10 PM PST by Daffynition
City Wide Youth Leadership Agency's William Mackey spends a lot of time talking about toys, but he isn't playing around.
He and other anti-violence advocates believe children playing with fake guns can potentially turn into a game of life or death, and Mackey's group is dedicated to boycotting stores who carry them.
"This is very, very important," Mackey said. "Philadelphia's streets are a bloodbath."
With the holiday season right around the corner -- and people already shopping for presents -- Mackey and his friends want stores that carry toy guns to hear their message.
He and others promise to not only boycott the stores, but also protest in front of them.
Tim Furlong Reports
"The only thing I can say is we don't need the guns, not sold as toys, as water blasters, as BB guns; we don't need any of this stuff," parent Kevin Murphy said.
Mother Maureen Norris, of North Philadelphia, said she thinks the boycott is a great idea because she doesn't buy them and she doesn't want stores to sell them.
"I never bought water guns, play guns, cap guns or nothing," Norris said.
Norris spoke to NBC 10's Tim Furlong as she and her young son headed into a city Toys 'R' Us store -- a good move for parents who want to avoid toy guns that look like the real thing. Toys 'R' Us, along with stores like Target and Wal-Mart, sell Nerf and laser-tag-type guns, but none that look like replica machine guns or Glocks.
Still, despite a September resolution from City Council asking stores to remove the guns from their shelves, some stores like KB Toys in the Franklin Mills Mall sell guns in all colors, shapes and sizes, including a realistic-looking machine gun and handgun purchased by Furlong.
William acknowledged that real guns are the real problem, but said even with the orange tip on fake guns, they are still sending the wrong message to kids in a troubled city.
These young people are brainwashed at such a young age with toy guns," Mackey said. "We must remove them.
"We will start this week boycotting stores in the city and the surrounding counties -- they must remove those toy guns off the shelves immediately," he shouted to supporters.
Nobody in Philly is willing to face the fact that it is young black males that are out of control doing most of the killing. Therefore, nobody is willing to get them under control.
Bill Cosby, where are you?
ROFL!
BTTT.
Yes. I remember an old rusty auto jack that became my tommygun when we played soldier. I must have slaughtered thousands of imaginary Germans and Japs with that thing.
“That’s OK - I don’t buy my kids toy guns.
I buy them real guns, and I take them to the range and let them shoot them.”
Marines of course know the difference between a rifle and a gun - their DI has a way to teach that lesson.
The closest to a toy gun I have is a Ruger .17 cal. My Grandkids love it.
Thanks! That’s the one. I misremembered some of the details tho. Munro was always good for a chortle or two.
LOL ... apparently so.
Lovely. I’m glad he turned his life around ... but he can keep his evangelism about toy guns to himself.
Thank them all for us for their service to their country and for all they have done for us. God bless them all.
Ooh, cool site!
Thanks to both of you for the info. I knew I could count on Freepers.
We don’t buy toy guns. My almost 6 yr old has his own (will be when he is 18).22 rifle and .410 shotgun. And he knows how to use them too.
I’m too old for that stuff - strickly range time for me now - and he still kicks my a**. Out-shoots me offhand at 300M and I *cheat* with a scope! Oh well - I may not look like much, but I did raise a Marine.
Is /s necessary?
Such faggotry!
We must get rid of them cuz
Guns are bad...M'kay?
ping for pic.
Way to go DAD ... starting them early is commendable!
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