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.
TMI 'but' agree 100% LOLOLOL...
probably not, velcro is easier...doesnt require independent thought and action...
They're a bloodbath because so many of you indirectly, prefer it that way... rather than standing behind your LE and the rule of law.
Boycott?
No one holds a squirt gun to customers’ temples forcing them to by a roll of caps.
Re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic again, I see.
Same here, only if I put the fat end on the ground and the handle up, it was a mortar!
I've always loved the way they hijack the language so that all their opponents look like booger-eating droolers.
Their rhetoric makes me a "violence advocate", as surely as "peace advocates" make me a "war advocate".
barbies are not guns, they’re targets :)
Typical _______________(name) thinks the (ban/boycott/immediate destruction of) ___________ is a great idea because (he/she/it) doesn't (want/buy/use/like/own) any ______________ .
SO if they don't want one, don't get one. Sheesh!
"These young people are brainwashed at such a young age with toy guns," Mackey said. "We must remove them."
depends on how good you want and what kind of toys.
the best looking ones, and most variety can be found at a stage prop store.
the most durable ones are the police trainers- hard rubber, usually blue or red. ain’t nothing gonna break ‘em.
if you want good airsoft, check out sig sauer.
also, ebay is a good place to look.
HAHAHA! Nice one!
[BTW roll caps are hard to find!]
5.56mm
Violence is up in Philly since Frank Rizzo left office for the same reason it is down in NY since Guilliani took office for his first term. It is called Responsible Leadership. Rudi has it and Street does not.
It is more likely he will get the next Nobel Peace Prize and then run for the US Congress representing the City of Brotherly Love; Philadelphia, PA.
Ha,ha...yes...you did raise a Marine and for that we are ALL grateful! God bless him and all our troops and...their families.
I understand he is still incarcerated ... appealing the appeal of the appeal of ..................
Happily, any store that does not bow to pressure and remove the toys from their shelves will be able to offer a more complete line of Christmas toys, and thus will be a one-stop shopping outlet for all of a customers Christmas present wish list.
Accordingly, those businesses that don't cave should do an even better business than those that do. Whichj is as it should be.
Actually, if there are any demonstrations at retailers who don't give in to the extortion demand, I hope that shooters equipped with powerful squirt guns get the protesters good during drive-by soakings.
And I hope it's on a particularly cold day....
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