[Stew Padasso]

"If youngsters in Carrollton, Tex., have visions of shiny spurs, fringed chaps and convincing six-shooters this Christmas, they may be out of luck. That is, at least as far as guns go."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24069-2002Dec21.html

[Stew Padasso]

BTW - that cop looks a little psycho.

[I_Publius]

I, my humble opinion, believe I agree with their ruling, at least for right now.

I am an avid gun lover, but feel that these "toy" guns are going to cause more trouble for those of us who want to retain our rights to bear arms. If I were a police officer, and had one of those toys pointed at me, I don't know if I would be able to tell, in a split second, whether or not it was real and to fire or not.

Let the kids play with the old fashioned, plastic looking cowboy six-shooters. At least they look enough like a gun to play with, yet are pretty recognizable by most people as being a toy.

[Liberal Classic]

If anyone gets shot waving one of these things around, it's their own damn fault. How about just write a law such that if you are shot while pointing one of these toys, you forfiet your right to sue?

[wardaddy]

Berreta 92 style non-firing copy....not cheap.

[brewcrew]

You know, before toy guns ever existed, kids were taught how to handle real ones. Maybe that's why there are so many gun accidents these days - not enough kids are taught the proper handling and use of real firearms. Then, when they're older and find themselves handling the real thing, they have no clue as to the difference between it and a toy.

That's it! Don't buy your kids toys, buy them the real thing! And then teach them the responsible way to use it - yes, morals will be part of the lesson (i.e., NEVER point it at anything you don't intend to kill, treat every gun as though it was loaded and live, etc.). Don't forget the occasional demonstration of what kind of damage it can inflict - a plastic jug of water, a pumpkin, a watermelon, etc.

Age 10 = BB gun

Age 12 = .22

Age 14 = .410

Age 16 = 12 ga. and/or a deer rifle (30.06 or a 30-30, etc.)

Finally, age 18 = a real, honest-to-God self defense weapon like a 9mm, a .357, or a .45, etc.

[Teacher317]

Umm, cell phones, wallets, lawn hose nozzles, and many other items have been mistaken by police officers for guns... shall we ban them as well?

[taxcontrol]

I'm partial to super soakers myself. You can teach alot about cover and concealment with a load of ice cold water.

[boris]

"Police Sgt. Jack Adams shows the similarity between a real gun, left, and a facsimile."

Here's a real gun, my Hannukah present to myself:

.480 Ruger Super Redhawk

--Boris

[PatrioticAmerican]

I'd be more afraid of the *ussy holding the gun than the toy gun. He looks like he just WANTS to kill something. Nice. Cops should be wackos. /sarcasm

[Long Cut]

I was a kid just when the push towards "unreal" looking guns began. Being a precocious little twerp, I merely did some research and borrowed some tools and material from my father, who also provided some useful training.

Within a few months, I could turn out some absolutely realistic-looking replicas of rifles and submachine guns using wood and plastic scraps. I even designed new ones, totally from scratch (one of which, I still have. It's hanging on the wall now.).

Even as children used to learn about guns at an early age, they also used to use their OWN imaginations and skills to build their OWN toys. In the process, learning took place as well as fun.

Therefore, I say leave the toys to be fretted about by the hoplophobes. Let the children build their own! If they are "too" realistic (never a concern in my childhood, and little more than an excuse now, IMHO), simply paint them a bright color with spray-paint.

[Clay Moore]

The verbage of the ban was in the last Texas State Rifle Association publication. As I read it, it bans nailguns and Hilti-guns. I look forward to the raids on construction sites and the black eye it gives these idiots. (^;

[Southack]

Gee, did someone at the Washington Post saw off the orange tipped barrel to make a "better" story??

[DLfromthedesert]

Bump for later reading