[email protected]

i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing with
guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone rule.

i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.

brenda



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 8/28/01 2:14:16 PM, brendaclaspell@... writes:

<< i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing
with
guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone rule.
>>

We let ours play with water guns, toy guns, cap pistols, rubber band guns,
potato guns (that was weird)... and the rule was don't point it at anyone
who's not playing. Now that they're old enough that they could easily have
developed an interest in real guns (15, 12, New Mexico), they have never
asked for so much as a BB gun.

Sandra

Tami Labig-Duquette

I remember (on this list :)), protesting guns, could not understand how you
could PLAY with a gun, blah,blah,blah :) My son is into cowboys, now wears
his play guns around the house along with his western attire, hat spurs,
etc. He doesn't wear them (guns) to the store just here, so Sandra was
right, (shocker :)), he did find out about them without me, and he enjoys
them so much.
Indiana Tami

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi

Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny




>From: SandraDodd@...
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns
>Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 16:44:39 EDT
>
>
>In a message dated 8/28/01 2:14:16 PM, brendaclaspell@... writes:
>
><< i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing
>with
>guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
>everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone
>rule.
> >>
>
>We let ours play with water guns, toy guns, cap pistols, rubber band guns,
>potato guns (that was weird)... and the rule was don't point it at anyone
>who's not playing. Now that they're old enough that they could easily
>have
>developed an interest in real guns (15, 12, New Mexico), they have never
>asked for so much as a BB gun.
>
>Sandra


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[email protected]

For me personally, I would not have guns in the house of any type. I haven't
had the issue come up yet, as Lelia was never interested in them, and Quinton
is only 2. I can't see us buying him any at any point in the future. Every
family has different things that they just don't have in their house. . .for
us, guns is definitely in that category.

lovemary

Master your responses to external events--don't attempt to control them






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

amy mathews

my friends and family loves this discussion
"all boys play guns"
or the hunter father-in-law
two close friends have taken the why bother attitude because they find a substitute
I've chosen to keep the no gun rules
we tried "water" guns when they were received as gifts but I replaced them with squirt bottles
they do use airplane and rubber band launchers that are just a long piece of wood
our oldest son never tested our authority on this but the younger still has to be reminded that "we don't play guns"
great question, cant wait to read responses
Amy
----- Original Message -----
From: brendaclaspell@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 2:08 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns


i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing with
guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone rule.

i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.

brenda



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Saga

We don't allow guns in the house right now. DH thinks this is silly, he
grew up in a no-gun household (they played with squirt bottles instead of
water pistols, etc... that is, until they got into the star wars figures and
star trek phasers), but I didn't want to corrupt our son's innocence, so
attempted to shield him from anything with a gun. No commercials, movie
previews, Star Trek, though he did watch Star Wars a while back - but he was
only 18 months old (I wonder if that's what did it!). Never use the word
gun around him. Nothing.
So he plays, with his cars, or his wand that we made, or a random stick from
outside, and makes shooting/spitting sounds like a gun, and he calls it a
"figther" (since he doesn't know the word gun). Where did he get this from?
I can't say it's because he's a boy - how did boy genes get guns so quickly,
(of course, I could say something about the male chromosomes and their
ability to mutate quickly, but I won't :p ). I would think he would have
picked up swordplay or something like that.
And swords will be allowed in our home, we're looking at having someone make
him a wood sword and shield, as we're into the whole medieval thing, but
also into the respect and beauty part in there as well, not as a weapon for
killing, but as an artform. But we weren't going to introduce that to him
until he was older, and when he showed interest (if he showed interest).
But for now we hid all our weapons (we have a knife collection) and still,
he is into "fighter"s. When asked more about these things, he says it makes
"little tiny holes" in people and things for fighting.
Who knows, he picked it up somewhere, thats for sure. Makes me sort of sad,
but also searching for ways for him to express such things appropriately.
Finding better hero models for him that will hopefully be better than what
is readily available today (batman, superman, all those crappy after school
cartoons...). Was thinking of Robin Hood, Arthurian legend, more archetypal
things. Anyone have any ideas?
And since we have our daughter, Sheherazade, we were thinking of looking for
good Arabian Nights books for kids.

-Kristi

-----Original Message-----
From: brendaclaspell@... [mailto:brendaclaspell@...]
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 1:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns


i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing
with
guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone rule.

i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.

brenda



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Kimberly & Roger Myers

My son started "shooting guns" very early. Long before he
could understand what a gun is.
We teach him what guns are used for (He will be 3 in Oct.).
If he points a gun at a person, the gun is taken away, and
he has to earn it back. If he points it again, the gun is
broken. Grandpa, keeps getting him toy guns, so breaking
doesnt do much for him!!
Kim Myers
proud mommy to William 10/98
proud mommy to Cody 6/18/01

brendaclaspell@... wrote:

> i just wondered what other parents did or thought about
> children playing with
> guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule
> then my son turned
> everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point
> it at anyone rule.
>
> i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out'
> violence.
>
> brenda
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
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>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and
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>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms
> of Service.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 1390
>Date: Tue, Aug 28, 2001, 2:17 PM
>

> i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing with
> guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
> everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone rule.
>
> i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.


We have real guns. My husband is a competition target shooter. My daughters
have seen him shoot, practice dry-firing (target shooting with no bullets in
the gun - a muscle-memory sort of training), and clean the guns regularly,
so they know what safe handling looks like.

If either of the girls wants to learn to handle real guns when they are
older, my husband will teach them.

So while Brit *does* "play guns" with squirt guns, etc. (not really that
often, I was exaggerating to be humorously pointed that many/most
unschooling kids aren't different in that they discuss Greek Mythology over
Pokemon) she plays with them very safely. I don't think I've ever seen her
point them at a living creature, person or otherwise. If she did, I would
encourage her not to and tell her why (because someone might think it's
real, because pretending to shoot at a real person -- or cat or dog or
hamster -- might frighten them and isn't good for her, either. And I would
not have toy guns that look like real guns around - I think it teaches bad
habits, and if a tragedy with a cop shooting a kid because he's pointing a
weapon is going to happen, it's more likely going to happen when the kid
points a real-looking gun.

Pam

[email protected]

We have taught Andrew, who is 5, that pretending to shot a gun is not what we
expect out of him. He knows that when he is older that we will teach him how
to shot a real gun. He knows that I don't want him to pretend with guns at
all. We do have squirt guns but he understands that it is not to hurt
others, just to get them wet. We want him to respect and understand the
responsibilities of shooting a gun. Jenny.

Lynda

We had a no gun rule but never had to enforce it beyond telling the mil from
h*ll not to buy them. The kidlets never played guns or shoot em ups or
anything else, so it was a non-issue. We had lots of sword fights, fencing
(everyone wanted mom's epi but that was a definate NO) and garden hose
fights but no one seemed interested in guns.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <brendaclaspell@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 1:08 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns


> i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing
with
> guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
> everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone
rule.
>
> i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.
>
> brenda
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

[email protected]

<< so Sandra was
right, (shocker :)) >>

Aw, shucks, ma'am, it's a gift from God.

I had a full Dale Evans get-up WITH cap pistols, and I watched every western
ever made (Sugarfoot, Maverick (named my first dogs Bart and Bret), Wagon
Train, Palladin, Cisco Kid--that was the first batch I remember, and every
one after that).

From teens on I wouldn't touch a gun. I don't own one, I don't want one. I
got it out of my system early on. <g>

Sandra

[email protected]

<< Master your responses to external events--don't attempt to control them >>

Interesting sigline for the topic. <g>

What will you do if/when your children make a gun by pointing an index finger
and saying "bang" or use a stick or make a Lego or Tinker-toy or K'Nex gun?
Would that be an external event?



Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Julie Stauffer

My son is a gun nut. Since he was in diapers, he has been fascinated by
them. He is now 8 and the fascination continues. We decided that it was
better to try to guide his fascination than to attempt vainly to squash it.
I am now a card carrying member of the NRA. My husband goes hunting and
talks with Zach about safety and ethics. Zach has a BB gun that he uses for
targets and we are looking into a shooting sports club through the local
4-H.

I firmly believe that guns are not the problem in this country. It is much
harder for a kid to get a gun now than it was 50 years ago, but for the most
part, kids have less sense. What I mean is that they have not been allowed
to see the consequences of their actions, they do not see animals die in
order that the kid might eat. What they see associated with guns is power
and glorification through the media. Just my two cents.

Julie

[email protected]

In a message dated 8/28/01 6:41:44 PM, psandcs@... writes:

<< He knows that when he is older that we will teach him how
to shot a real gun. He knows that I don't want him to pretend with guns at
all. >>

This seems flawed. Can he pretend to drive a car? Can he pretend to ride a
horse, or to wash toy dishes? Could he pretend bow and arrow or play air
guitar?

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Julie Stauffer

<<we have no guns.....going to have a sword made for him....we collect
knives>>>

Why are swords and knives OK and guns somehow inherently evil? The purpose
of swords was exactly the same purpose of guns. I don't understand.

Julie

[email protected]

wow, all the feedback really gets the wheels turning. i have let him play
swords, thinking that fencing could be an art, but he's not thinking art when
he plays them. he's probably thinking the same thing he's thinking when he
points his french fry at me. the other day at the park he and another boy
were playing swords with their sticks, and i intervened and said to please
stop fighting, they were bummed. then i heard another mother tell her son to
put down a stick, he wasn't even allowed to hold them or play with them as
sticks. so it got my wheels turning with the swords, then guns.

so, it seems that on most topics around here except ps, the general consensus
is to relax....i'm hoping this gets easier.


brenda


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Johanna SanInocencio

We tried a no gun rule when the boys were younger, but they would take
things like bananas or legos and run around going pow pow at each other. It
is a game to them, like playing tag. We do have certain boundaries and the
kids know to respect them. My boys are now 14, 10, 9 and 4. Real violence is
not tolerated, even minor and they understand the difference between the
two.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: <brendaclaspell@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 3:08 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns


> i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children playing
with
> guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my son turned
> everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at anyone
rule.
>
> i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out' violence.
>
> brenda
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>

Johanna SanInocencio

Julie, I think you make a key point here. In the past guns were a tool to be
used with care and in the proper manner. Most children would be taught
proper use and safety.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Stauffer" <jnjstau@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 11:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns


> My son is a gun nut. Since he was in diapers, he has been fascinated by
> them. He is now 8 and the fascination continues. We decided that it was
> better to try to guide his fascination than to attempt vainly to squash
it.
> I am now a card carrying member of the NRA. My husband goes hunting and
> talks with Zach about safety and ethics. Zach has a BB gun that he uses
for
> targets and we are looking into a shooting sports club through the local
> 4-H.
>
> I firmly believe that guns are not the problem in this country. It is
much
> harder for a kid to get a gun now than it was 50 years ago, but for the
most
> part, kids have less sense. What I mean is that they have not been
allowed
> to see the consequences of their actions, they do not see animals die in
> order that the kid might eat. What they see associated with guns is power
> and glorification through the media. Just my two cents.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>

LisaBugg

.
>
> so, it seems that on most topics around here except ps, the general
consensus
> is to relax....i'm hoping this gets easier.
>
>
> brenda
>
>
I don't suppose you want us talking about kids driving 4000 pound machines
around, at high rates of speed no less? Not to mention they drive these
things while being full of raging hormones?? And low and behold, after
doing this for some time they want to go off and drive these huge killing
machines ALONE.

Would you believe me now if I said, "sure, it gets eaiser?" <evil grin>

Sharon Rudd

Another place to avoid having toy guns in a car, Road
Rage being an unfortunate, but real, problem. A toy
gun cannot be id'ed as only a toy from another
vehicle.

My DSs all played with toy guns. With the first DS I
thought we would avoid gun play, but DS#1 constructed
his own at about 18 months. Oh well. I bought him a
water pistol when he asked for it. They all had toy
water pistols, cap guns, rubber band guns and at 7 or
8 a BB gun, then at about 12, a rifle. My youngest
DS#4, 7, has a BB gun, now. And recently bought
himself a cleverly made toy pop-gun. He does know the
difference, and when his little niece and nephew
visited recently, he did not even allow them in the
room where his guns were because they were too little
and inexperienced to know how to behave...in his
opinion.

None of my DSs cares to hunt. The older DSs have at
different times shot chicken eating 'possums, rabid
coon's, vicious feral dogs, and watermoccasins, and
animals that have been hit (beyond recovery) by
vehicles (dogs, deer)...other people driving, of
course!

My brothers played WAR games as children, complete
with blood curdling screams and explosion sound
effects. One is now an EMT, the other a building
contractor. Neither hunts, but did as teens. Neither
are criminals nor abusive to their families.

Sharon


--- Tami Labig-Duquette <labigduquette@...>
wrote:
> I remember (on this list :)), protesting guns, could
> not understand how you
> could PLAY with a gun, blah,blah,blah :) My son is
> into cowboys, now wears
> his play guns around the house along with his
> western attire, hat spurs,
> etc. He doesn't wear them (guns) to the store just
> here, so Sandra was
> right, (shocker :)), he did find out about them
> without me, and he enjoys
> them so much.
> Indiana Tami
>
> "You must be the change you wish to see in the
> world"
>
> ~Ghandi
>
> Try out this fun site!
>
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>
>
>
>
> >From: SandraDodd@...
> >Reply-To: [email protected]
> >To: [email protected]
> >Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns
> >Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 16:44:39 EDT
> >
> >
> >In a message dated 8/28/01 2:14:16 PM,
> brendaclaspell@... writes:
> >
> ><< i just wondered what other parents did or
> thought about children playing
> >with
> >guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun
> rule then my son turned
> >everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't
> point it at anyone
> >rule.
> > >>
> >
> >We let ours play with water guns, toy guns, cap
> pistols, rubber band guns,
> >potato guns (that was weird)... and the rule was
> don't point it at anyone
> >who's not playing. Now that they're old enough
> that they could easily
> >have
> >developed an interest in real guns (15, 12, New
> Mexico), they have never
> >asked for so much as a BB gun.
> >
> >Sandra
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
> http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
>
>


__________________________________________________
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[email protected]

Many things that people do may seem flawed to others. Someone asked what
others did regarding kids playing with guns and I responded. We all have our
own belief system regarding such issues and I don't appreciated being told
mine is flawed. Jenny

Janet F Hamlin

Right now the kids are not and have not (yet) shown an interest in guns. My
dd and I are reading the Little House series, and are reading about Pa's gun
and how he made bullets, etc. We made some comparisons about life back then
and life today, and how guns were needed back then to hunt or protect
yourself from panthers and bears, etc. and how today people don't need guns.
We didn't get into hunting for sport or target shooting, etc. but we have
also seen some episodes of Bonanza recently and have talked about the "good
guys and bad guys" thing.

My son (age 3) hasn't been interested yet, though we "shoot" the dog with
our hand pointed like a gun and she "dies". Cute dog trick.

I played with toy guns as a kid, mostly playing cowboys and indians or good
guys/bad guys or some such thing. I don't see a problem with it, though I'm
sure when my kids are older we'll be talking about guns in our society
today.

Janet, mom to Caroline, 6, and Thomas, 3.

[email protected]

In a message dated 8/28/2001 11:46:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:


> Would that be an external event?
>
>

nope

Master your responses to external events--don't attempt to control them






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

> The purpose
> of swords was exactly the same purpose of guns.

Not really.
Perhaps the invention for battle was the same, but nobody kills a deer with a
sword. Swords aren't used for killing food at all. Guns are.

In the hunting for food lineage, guns replaced bows and arrows. So guns have
a usefulness beyond men killing men. Swords do nowadays, in that there are
martial arts (Asian and European) involving swords.

Sandra



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

>

Even about public school there's more "relax" than many people would like! :-)

If it is totally demonized, imagine a child's life-threatening fright if the
parents died and he had to go there!

We present it as something my husband and I enjoyed a lot, but that our kids
can avoid if they want. We sigh (honestly) with wistful regret when Kirby's
friend goes to marching band practice, because my husband and I were both in
music programs--band and chorus (all-state) for me, and orchestra, marching
band, theatre and SingOut for him. They know we have some fond thoughts of
schools.

Sandra


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

> We all have our
> own belief system regarding such issues and I don't appreciated being told
> mine is flawed.

Sorry.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tami Labig-Duquette

Collin is a very sensitivw child, I can't even imagine him ever hunting.
He does wear his guns in the house. No where else (well the yard).
Indiana Tami

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
~Ghandi

Try out this fun site!
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny




>From: Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns
>Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:49:31 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Another place to avoid having toy guns in a car, Road
>Rage being an unfortunate, but real, problem. A toy
>gun cannot be id'ed as only a toy from another
>vehicle.
>
>My DSs all played with toy guns. With the first DS I
>thought we would avoid gun play, but DS#1 constructed
>his own at about 18 months. Oh well. I bought him a
>water pistol when he asked for it. They all had toy
>water pistols, cap guns, rubber band guns and at 7 or
>8 a BB gun, then at about 12, a rifle. My youngest
>DS#4, 7, has a BB gun, now. And recently bought
>himself a cleverly made toy pop-gun. He does know the
>difference, and when his little niece and nephew
>visited recently, he did not even allow them in the
>room where his guns were because they were too little
>and inexperienced to know how to behave...in his
>opinion.
>
>None of my DSs cares to hunt. The older DSs have at
>different times shot chicken eating 'possums, rabid
>coon's, vicious feral dogs, and watermoccasins, and
>animals that have been hit (beyond recovery) by
>vehicles (dogs, deer)...other people driving, of
>course!
>
>My brothers played WAR games as children, complete
>with blood curdling screams and explosion sound
>effects. One is now an EMT, the other a building
>contractor. Neither hunts, but did as teens. Neither
>are criminals nor abusive to their families.
>
>Sharon
>
>
>--- Tami Labig-Duquette <labigduquette@...>
>wrote:
> > I remember (on this list :)), protesting guns, could
> > not understand how you
> > could PLAY with a gun, blah,blah,blah :) My son is
> > into cowboys, now wears
> > his play guns around the house along with his
> > western attire, hat spurs,
> > etc. He doesn't wear them (guns) to the store just
> > here, so Sandra was
> > right, (shocker :)), he did find out about them
> > without me, and he enjoys
> > them so much.
> > Indiana Tami
> >
> > "You must be the change you wish to see in the
> > world"
> >
> > ~Ghandi
> >
> > Try out this fun site!
> >
>http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: SandraDodd@...
> > >Reply-To: [email protected]
> > >To: [email protected]
> > >Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns
> > >Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 16:44:39 EDT
> > >
> > >
> > >In a message dated 8/28/01 2:14:16 PM,
> > brendaclaspell@... writes:
> > >
> > ><< i just wondered what other parents did or
> > thought about children playing
> > >with
> > >guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun
> > rule then my son turned
> > >everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't
> > point it at anyone
> > >rule.
> > > >>
> > >
> > >We let ours play with water guns, toy guns, cap
> > pistols, rubber band guns,
> > >potato guns (that was weird)... and the rule was
> > don't point it at anyone
> > >who's not playing. Now that they're old enough
> > that they could easily
> > >have
> > >developed an interest in real guns (15, 12, New
> > Mexico), they have never
> > >asked for so much as a BB gun.
> > >
> > >Sandra
> >
> >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________
> > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
> > http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
> >
> >
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
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[email protected]

My two year old loves his older brothers laser tag gun. It makes a
fun noise when you "shoot" it. The whole family plays along with him
when we get "shot", like we have been hit by a jolt of electricity or
something, because of the cool noise it makes. It looks nothing like
a real gun though. He has played with other toy guns but always goes
back to his cars and trucks and planes.

Laura

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "amy mathews" <tlcamy@t...> wrote:
> my friends and family loves this discussion
> "all boys play guns"
> or the hunter father-in-law
> two close friends have taken the why bother attitude because they
find a substitute
> I've chosen to keep the no gun rules
> we tried "water" guns when they were received as gifts but I
replaced them with squirt bottles
> they do use airplane and rubber band launchers that are just a long
piece of wood
> our oldest son never tested our authority on this but the younger
still has to be reminded that "we don't play guns"
> great question, cant wait to read responses
> Amy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: brendaclaspell@a...
> To: Unschooling-dotcom@y...
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 2:08 PM
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] kids playing guns
>
>
> i just wondered what other parents did or thought about children
playing with
> guns. not real guns, but toy guns. we had a no gun rule then my
son turned
> everything into a gun and so it turned into a don't point it at
anyone rule.
>
> i just wondered how others handled this or other 'act out'
violence.
>
> brenda
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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Julie Stauffer

<<swords aren't used to kill food at all>>

Correct. I was actually being less specific, in that the use for a sword
and a gun both are killing in general. You make mention of the martial arts
using weapons, such as kendo. I wonder how the experience of the kendo or
fencing practitioner differs, if at all, from the student of shooting sports
such as skeet, fast draw, etc.?

Julie

[email protected]

The shooters in at least two, maybe three of the school shooting
incidents were taught the proper care and use of guns. They had been
raised with guns and the guns were "tools" in those families. They
had been hunting and they had seen that death was the result of
pointing and shooting those guns.

Lynda

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "Johanna SanInocencio"
<saninocencio@c...> wrote:
> Julie, I think you make a key point here. In the past guns were a
tool to be
> used with care and in the proper manner. Most children would be
taught
> proper use and safety.
> Johanna
> Life is the ultimate learning experience!