Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

Although you both were disappointed, it was for different reasons. You, obviously, because you have limited imagination and excess rigidity. Him because it's a really cool toy and he knew you were going to take it away.

I was just about to post the same thing, PP. OP's son was disappointed because he knew his mom would freak out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all of you non toy gun people also are:

Non nerf
Non lightsaber
Non archery
Non crossbow
Non pirate swords
Non marvel movies
Non Lego movies or video games
Non Super Smash Bros or other Mario games.

What about:
super soakers
Water balloons

Yes, and laser tag sets, laser tag parties, paintball parties when they get into their teens. Do anti-gun people ban all of these too?

I assume all these people have children under the age of 5. I'm as pro-gun-control as they come, but banning an elementary school student from owning a squirt gun is lunacy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do all of you non toy gun people also are:

Non nerf
Non lightsaber
Non archery
Non crossbow
Non pirate swords
Non marvel movies
Non Lego movies or video games
Non Super Smash Bros or other Mario games.

What about:
super soakers
Water balloons

Yes, and laser tag sets, laser tag parties, paintball parties when they get into their teens. Do anti-gun people ban all of these too?

I used to feel the same as you, OP. Even had a similar policy in our home (no guns or gun toys). Having two boys allowed me to see that boys can and will turn any object into a gun. I finally softened and let them have nerf guns.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

I agree OP. This has happened to us more than once. We explain to DD why this is an inappropriate gift (she knew after the first time) and we throw it out. End of Story. The key is talking to your child though.

I am so curious what parents say to kids that get a nerf blaster, that you believe those kids truly understand and "get it"? I think most just nod and think you are nuts since 99% of the population has weapon toys as kids and aren't going nuts and shooting up the streets once they hit teens or adulthood.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

Although you both were disappointed, it was for different reasons. You, obviously, because you have limited imagination and excess rigidity. Him because it's a really cool toy and he knew you were going to take it away.

BINGO!!!! Poor kid

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

I agree OP. This has happened to us more than once. We explain to DD why this is an inappropriate gift (she knew after the first time) and we throw it out. End of Story. The key is talking to your child though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

Although you both were disappointed, it was for different reasons. You, obviously, because you have limited imagination and excess rigidity. Him because it's a really cool toy and he knew you were going to take it away.

hahaha.

Exactly, anti-gun doesn't equal to anti-Nerf.

Anonymous wrote:DS had his 6 th birthday party with a small group of friends from school. One of them gave him a toy gun with bullets. Our family philosophy is not to give anything related to guns to our children. DS opened his gifts towards the end of the party and when he found this we looked at each other with huge disappointment. It was very difficult to say Thank You for such crap. With so many educational gift options out there, I honestly wonder why people have wrong idea of giving a gun to a 6 y o.

Although you both were disappointed, it was for different reasons. You, obviously, because you have limited imagination and excess rigidity. Him because it's a really cool toy and he knew you were going to take it away.

It's a gentle way of saying "let this boy be a boy".

Anti-gunners keep getting more pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The other family didn't mean any harm by it, and therefore the correct etiquette is to thank them.

You are free to dispose of the offending toy as you wish.

FYI. I graciously sent a Thank You note to every guest early this morning as I'm a good follower of correct etiquette. My post was intended to know what drives certain parents to give that kind of toy.

was it a nerf gun?

Of course it is.

No one in the greater dc metro area is giving an acquaintance kindergartner a red ryder bb gun, paint gun or airsoft rifle for a birthday gift.

It is possibly a laser tag set but 99% likely she is this worked up over a nerf blaster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The other family didn't mean any harm by it, and therefore the correct etiquette is to thank them.

You are free to dispose of the offending toy as you wish.

FYI. I graciously sent a Thank You note to every guest early this morning as I'm a good follower of correct etiquette. My post was intended to know what drives certain parents to give that kind of toy.

Um...it is fun. The kids enjoy it. The grown ups enjoy it. Nerf blasters (NOT "guns and bullets" fyi) are social, active, inclusive toys.

Unlike sports games where non athletic or socially active kids get shunned and left out, all kids are welcome.and included when the neighborhood kids organize a big nerf battle. Yes, even the girls.

They are very possibly the best active toy out there for kids, with the greatest likelihood of fun and inclusiveness for all the kids.

Since ou are not going to let your kid have it, go to the basement or backyard with your husband and play around with it. I bet you will change your tune.

Horrible gift. Don't do this, people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The other family didn't mean any harm by it, and therefore the correct etiquette is to thank them.

You are free to dispose of the offending toy as you wish.

FYI. I graciously sent a Thank You note to every guest early this morning as I'm a good follower of correct etiquette. My post was intended to know what drives certain parents to give that kind of toy.

was it a nerf gun?