Replies

never read an study of a child's moral reasoning that covered guns, but I would suspect it since the author would be an adult with some sort of point of view, but here's an interesting story ...
took our son to Wild West City in New Jersey maybe 8 years ago when he was maybe 8.
its an old west main street with a picnic area, and looks the same to me as it did in the 60s when I was that age.
every day at noon the morality play is the same.
the 12 oclock stage gets robbed by some desperados.
some others in the cast gather up all the kids and deputize them as a posse. (they swear them in)
since everybody that comes there buys or brings a cap gun they are all armed (I guess this is the militia)
together they run around the place and chase down the bad guys and bring them back to the main street.
a cast member picks the kid who stands the straightest as the mayor or judge (boy, girl, it varies).
they try the bandits.
all the kids are the jury
their verdict is ALWAYS (a long-time cast members confirmed this) HANG EM.
as they are led off to the hanging, the desperados try to escape.
the posse and the bad guys have a shoot-out on main street.
the bad guys go down.
the town rejoices and everybody has a soda or lunch and buys more caps...
its still there at www.wildwestcity.com
just looked and there is a pop up saying "Wild West City's Anti-Violence Position - Since 1956, Wild West City has presented classic shows and programs reflecting the history, legend and lore of the American West in the tradition of the American Indian, Buffalo Bill, The Earp Brothers and film and television documentaries.

Although some presentations utilize firearms, Wild West City does not condone nor promote the misuse of firearms in our society today. Historically, firearms were necessary as a means of survival and are reflected as such. References or portrayals of firearms cannot be eliminated from U.S. history and, from an educational standpoint, Wild West City cannot deny their historical relevance. In doing so, Wild West City is accountable to educate the public by also demonstrating the responsible use of firearms. Through dramatic re-enactments that depict such use, firearms usage is portrayed as an appropriate act of protection for the period, not an act of senseless or random violence.*
*If preferred, special calendar programs excluding references to firearms usage are offered.
Please visit the School Groups & Organizations section on our web page."

I guess some parents objected and would rather have appealed to the UN for peace-keepers, but the kids I saw always saw it the same way ...