All this nonsense got started with the murder of Bobby Kennedy back in 1968. Among all the other nonsense taking place, as the de-violence of comic books, pulp fiction covers, dumbing down adult (but safe for kids) TV shows to kiddie shows, butchering movies of all “violence” for showing on TV, and how the movie industry used “self policing” and a joke of a ratings system, to destroy the Hays Code, thus adding more sex and violence to theater movies.
Toy guns disappeared from stores, and kids were told to turn in their toy guns as the feminization and emasculation of America’s boys began.
One kid turned in a toy gun, got bragged on by the police and press for turning in his toy, then he said...”It wsn’t mine.” One reporter then said the kid would probably grow up to be a politician.
It really got rolling with the murder of John Lennon. It drove home to celebrities and elites that it doesn't matter how many bodyguards you have, if some nutcase with no prior record wants you dead.