Toy guns banned?

[oae]

Here is some interesting news from Gander Mountain, the large sporting goods retailer headquartered in St. Paul, MN. It seems their company has now made the decision to quit selling new toy guns that actually look like real firearms in all of their retail stores in the United States.

Wow, will kids only have Nerf, foam toy guns to play with soon? Now, it's toy Gun Control. What's next, NICS for buying realistic toy guns? Is this just more Political Correctness getting out of hand? Or, is this something that many people want to see in order to protect Law Enforcement and help them stay safe on the job?

What say you, fellow High Road folks?

oae



"Gander Mountain Moves to Take Realistic Toy Guns Off Its Shelves


ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gander Mountain Company announced today that it is pulling realistic replica guns from its stores in Minnesota and will sell only airsoft guns that are obviously and unmistakably toys.

Gander Mountain will phase out realistic replica guns, in favor of the obvious toy guns, in all its 105 stores as soon as possible.

The new sales policy is in support of law enforcement agencies and local government ordinances regarding the possession and use of replica firearms. These ordinances are under review in the company's home base of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and many other parts of the country.

"This is the right thing to do," said Mark Baker, CEO of Gander Mountain. "We are dedicated to the safe and responsible use of the products we sell. Every firearm, whether it's a replica or the real thing, should be handled in a safe manner. By offering only airsoft guns that cannot be mistaken for real weapons, we are doing everything we can to encourage their safe handling and use."

Gander Mountain is known for its commitment to safety in the outdoors. The company's stores are the largest provider of hunter education and firearms safety courses in the United States. The outdoor retailer has more than twice the locations of its nearest two competitors combined and sold nearly $3.5 million in airsoft guns and products last year.

About Gander Mountain Company

Gander Mountain Company (NASDAQ: GMTN) , headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services. Since 1960, the Gander Mountain brand has offered an expanding assortment of competitively priced outdoor equipment, technical apparel and footwear, as well as gunsmith, archery, ATV, boat and marine services. The stores feature national, regional and local brands as well as the company's owned brands. Focused on a "We Live Outdoors(R)" culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories. There are currently 105 Gander Mountain outdoor lifestyle stores in 22 states. For the nearest store location call 800-282-5993 or visit http://www.gandermountain.com/ ."

 

[Neo-Luddite]

They're a big box upscale seller. They really don't carry 'ugly black' rifles very much either. The toy guns they've had are really 'old fashioned' looking deals anyway. The airsoft I wouldn't call a toy anyway. They are all going clear or colorful. Fine. Buy the kid some Testors model paint if they want realistic. I used to love painting up squirt guns as a kid.

I have kids and have pretty strict rules about playing with toy guns (except squirt guns). I'm not in any way endosing their silliness, but I think non-gun people create stupidity if they let free play with 'toy' guns be allowed. Soft airguns are by no means toys.

 

[XD Fan]

This is deeply annoying.

 

[BigBlock]

I don't have a problem with that at all. Kids are stupid. They point guns at things they shouldn't. That's a huge problem in 2007, and it's only going to get the kids killed. They can have just as much fun with a bright orange peice of plastic that nobody would ever mistake for the real thing.

What reason could any kid possibly have to need a realistic gun? A kid doesn't even know what a realistic gun looks like.

 

[Il Duca]

What reason could any kid possibly have to need a realistic gun?

For that matter, for what possible reason do we need real guns for anyways? We'll just end up doing something stupid with them. That's the anti mentality in a nutshell. It isn't really neccessary so let's get rid of it because we don't think there's a reason for people to have them.

This is another case of PC gone bad. I am an avid airsofter, and let me tell you, I've seen more adults do stupid things with toy guns, and real firearms, than most kids. This kind of stuff really chaps my a... well, you know.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Wow, will kids only have Nerf, foam toy guns to play with soon?

And 15 years from now, they'll grow up to buy FN 2000s and FN-90s Duracoated bright orange and yellow.

It is kind of sad though. Growing up, all my toy guns looked real (oh for that uzi squirt gun).

 

[BigBlock]

For that matter, for what possible reason do we need real guns for anyways?

The difference is, kids don't yet have the right to do something 'just cause'. We don't allow adults who have the mentality of children to use guns in this country, so why should we let actual children use them? If you were to ban real guns from adults then you are taking away a useful tool. If you take away real looking guns from kids you're just taking away a stupid prop. Apples to oranges.

If anything, this is a GOOD THING for the pro gun people. There will be less incidents of idiots getting shot for pointing fake guns at the police.

 

[Roadwild17]

What, the orange tip isn't enough anymore? Kids will be kids, they will "play" guns with whatever is available. All in all this is just another way for antis to instill an anti feeling into younger generations.

 

[MattC]

This reminds me of an annoying realization.

I don't go into the toy section very often of big-box retailers, but have been appreciative of the rise in paintball products offered (I'm a fan of the tournament scene). There's also been an increase in air-soft, from what I've seen. But when I went to get my girlfriend's little sister (mom started early and is finishing late) a birthday present, I noticed that all of the toy guns were gone in both Target and Wal-Mart. Not even a toy sword was to be found near all of the Pirates of the Caribbean stuff.

I remember begging my mom to get me the toy lever action rifle for Christmas as a kid, and when my brother got one as well it was great! Loved the cap guns, too.

Now kids can't play with these classics? ***, Mate?

 

[Wasz]

I airsoft as a sport. Think paintball. The objective is military simulation or "milsim". Its better because the guns are more realistic. It is also very challenging to stratigize against another team. We use adapted realistic senarios and squad based military tactics. There are even airsoft IDPA leagues and the like, though mostly in countries where real firearms are not available to the public such as Japan and England.

I understand why real looking "toys" are bad for children to have. To me from my inside viewpoint this is an enforcement issue. Similar to real gun laws, if they enforced not selling to anyone under 18 and parents did not go out and buy kids airsoft guns to play with in the backyard then this would be much less of an issue.

For adults (I play with a group that ranges age 18-50) that play airsoft as a sport like it is intended "backyard" airsofters are hated. They are ruining the sport for exactly the reasons stated. The toys look too real to be running around with in public. I play only on land where it is legal to do so. Meaning fields that are also used for paintball or on land where we play with the owner, and have spoken to local law enforcement and neighbors (closest house to the many acres of woods we play in is across a field over 800 yards away) to let them know we are there and what we are doing.

If treated responsibly it is a sport just like paintball is a sport. Its great exercise, and a challenging use of tactics. Take the airsoft guns away from the kids and leave them in the hands of the responsible adults. I shouldn't have to lose my sport in a free nation.

 

[BigBlock]

What, the orange tip isn't enough anymore? Kids will be kids, they will "play" guns with whatever is available.

No, and it never was enough. All it takes is 15 seconds with a sharpie to get rid of that. It isn't about kids just playing with guns. They always have, they always will, and nobody is trying to take that away. The problem is when the old lady down the street thinks they have a real glock and then a swat team shows up and shoots the kid with a real gun. Those sorts of things happen WAY too often. If they were shooting at eachother with something obviously fake then there is no issue.

 

[Geronimo45]

On the other hand, taking away the easy-to-get gun lookalike, you may force Curious George the Gangsta to buy himself a real gun, so that his next holdup could be deadly.

As for kids and airsoft guns - I sure wish they would've had those things when I was a kid. I'd've given an arm and a leg for one. Cap guns just don't cut it. They would always break too easy.

"What reason could any kid possibly have to need a realistic gun? A kid doesn't even know what a realistic gun looks like."
Well, he doesn't want to use a cheap-looking see-through gun. It doesn't look as 'cool' as a black one, or a shiny one. Kids don't know what a real gun looks like? You know how many computer games they play? How many action movies they see? They want it to look like a real gun, not a water-pistol.

 

[oae]

Toy Guns, approved by Roy Rogers

Yep, realistic toy guns are dangerous, thats for sure. Just look at all the mayhem that was caused by kids with the "Roy Rogers Shooter Hat" in this TV commercial from the early 1960's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOeg5LqZyCo

oae

 

[BigBlock]

They want it to look like a real gun, not a water-pistol.

They also want the keys to the car, the code to watch the dirty channels on TV, a giant box of candy, etc. Should we give them that too?

Yep, realistic toy guns are dangerous, thats for sure. Just look at all the mayhem that was caused by kids with the "Roy Rogers Shooter Hat" in this TV commercial from the early 1960's.

Guess what? It isn't the 1960s anymore.

 

[oae]

Guess what? It isn't the 1960s anymore.

Yes, it's not the 1960's when kids, parents and our country took responsibility. Presently, we have the "Nanny State". Let's blame the toy for the bad things that can and do happen when they are not used in the manner intended. The young person using the toy in an incorrect way should not be blamed as he or she is a victim of a bad or soon to be banned toy. Yep, that where we are today in 2007, no accountability, blame the object, not the person.

oae:banghead:

 

[pictoblu]

That Roy Rogers stuff is part of our (mine) heritage.

I had an outfit just like the black/red, the kid on the left wears in that commercial. But I think my boots were different. I know my cap gun was.

Thanks for the memory.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

When I Were A Lad

Heck, when I were a lad, we wuz lucky if we could afford a cap gun.

I made most of mine from pine boards with a stickleback saw. Bang! Bang! You missed! Did not!

Made a rifle, a pistol, and a sabre. All from a hunk of wood plank.

It was all I needed to win WWII, beat the injuns, and make Zorro green with envy.

And we ate dirt. And we were THANKFUL.

 

[Zoogster]

It is just one of those leftist choices that are going to raise the next generation feeling like guns are evil, in fact so evil something that even looks like them is wrong. The mere shape of a gun is going to create fear and excitement and irresponsible behavior because they won't even be conditioned to learn to act a certain way with things that look like guns. Of course this means less real firearm support in the future.

Sure nobody needs a real looking firearm, but they want one that looks like in the movies, like the games they play. Some kids on rare occasions that foolishly point them at police may get shot. Some kids will get hit by cars chasing a ball into the street. Should you ban balls? They are not really needed if not being used in an organized game, and especialy if it is not a safe supervised school event overseen by proper authorities.

We are creating a society of unfree people, and it changes into what children are conditioned with growing up. If a parent does not want a child to have a toy gun that looks real that is thier choice, and should not be the government's or the lawyer's.

When I was a kid I learned to not be seen by police pointing or using toy guns. To put them down or drop them or let them hang pointed at the ground if a cop went by so as to not create alarm or panic by an officer before he could assess things. Some of my favorite toys were guns. Some were even 'evil' and used colors actualy used by real guns! I learned respect for the potential consequences and became more responsible because of it.

In a free society shouldn't almost everything be legal and individuals be punished if they show that they are irresponsible or will infringe on someone else's rights, and not before then? I guess not in the perfect utopia.

I remember when I was a kid the kids who had parents that would not let them play with toy guns were usualy much less assertive and had very structured lives absent of creative fun or play on thier own. Thier parents had created them thier own fake little world with a schedule that kept them busy but never really let them be kids. Do it yourself, self reliance, homemade projects, creativity, exploration, all discouraged. Organized events, school events, formal classes on parent chosen hobbies etc all encouraged. These are probably the type of kids that grew up to lead the charge to create the perfect less than free utopia.

 

[Limeyfellow]

My best toy gun when I was a kid was a copy of the Sten gun which fired caps. Awesome thing, made from good old metal. Alas you can't get stuff like that anymore.

 

[BigBlock]

It is important to note this is in no way a law, or a restriction on anybody. Simply one store deciding for the good of the public they should no longer sell something that causes problems. I applaud them for that.

 

[Car Knocker]

A store has the perogative to determine what it will or will not sell. Potential customers have the option of shopping or not shopping at a store and can base their decision on whatever criteria is important to them. Shop or don't shop at Gander Mountain, do whatever gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 

[kfranz]

The problem is when the old lady down the street thinks they have a real glock and then a swat team shows up and shoots the kid with a real gun. Those sorts of things happen WAY too often.

I'd like to see some backing for that statement.

I've got no beef with stores pulling stuff that they don't want to sell anymore, regardless of the reason. I just don't think anyone needs to try to make some silly excuse for it.

 

[BigBlock]

I'd like to see some backing for that statement.

Do you actually think nobody has been shot because they pointed a plastic gun at the wrong person? No, I'm not going to waste my time looking up facts for some doofus on the internet. You know how to use google.

 

[kfranz]

Do you actually think nobody has been shot because they pointed a plastic gun at the wrong person?

I'm sure people have been shot for doing a wide variety of extraordinarily stupid things. Seems like a consequence that is pretty predictable to me. Please though, since I'm such a doofus, define "WAY too often" so I know when to stop searching...

 

[BigBlock]

define "WAY too often"

More than once.