i was under the impression that kids in iraq played with actual, for real guns.

Who needs toy guns when nearly every household has a couple of AK-47's?

/shakes unfixed bayonet at kingMountain

Haha. Like the public schools here all had to start teaching the metric system so that we'd all start using it once a few kids started graduating.

/still waiting...

Wake me when they decide to actually disarm the population.

...of real guns.

kingMountain: i was under the impression that kids in iraq played with actual, for real guns.

Came to say this.

However, it is not THAT far out of an idea. Why expose them to any kind of gun? it makes a little sense.

This turn of events brought to you by the Republican Party of America.

/and their supporters in the NRA.

But what about the violent video games? And the music? Do they listen to Marilyn Manson in Iraq? The conduct of their adult role models obviously have nothing to do with how they grow up.

I dont think they should ban these as toys but I dont think Children should play with toy guns.

As a gun owner, I think its important to teach children about firearms, that they are not a toy, can be dangerous when not properly used and should be respected at all times.

When I have kids they will learn to shoot and they will not be allowed to have toy guns.

Oh great. Once the NRA gets involved we won't stand a chance against the insurgency.

Control_this: Oh great. Once the NRA gets involved we won't stand a chance against the insurgency.

Interestingly enough, the NRA is pretty much as against toy weapons, for the reasons I stated in my above post!

SlappyKincaid: I dont think they should ban these as toys but I dont think Children should play with toy guns.

As a gun owner, I think its important to teach children about firearms, that they are not a toy, can be dangerous when not properly used and should be respected at all times.

When I have kids they will learn to shoot and they will not be allowed to have toy guns.

This. I was never allowed to have toy guns as a child for this very reason. Of course, being a boy, I just made guns out of whatever other toys I had, but I feel that it definitely taught me a deeper respect for firearms.

How's that oil wealth distribution problem coming along?

oh ok a toy gun ban, um...How's that oil wealth distribution problem coming along?

Occam's Chainsaw:
This. I was never allowed to have toy guns as a child for this very reason. Of course, being a boy, I just made guns out of whatever other toys I had, but I feel that it definitely taught me a deeper respect for firearms.

Glad to know I'm not the only one out there who thinks like this!

Its like anything forbidden, its just that much sweeter for kids.

By exposing them properly to the real things, guns become less of an enigma and I think that lessens the chances of improper use!

while you fellas are on the topic of reducing violence, maybe you could work on this.

BAGHDAD - Muqtada al-Sadr is considering setting aside his political ambitions and restarting a full-scale fight against U.S.-led forces - a worrisome shift that may reflect Iranian influence on the young cleric and could open the way for a shadow state protected by his powerful Mahdi Army.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24296998/

If they want to stop the violence, they should ban the Koran.

SlappyKincaid: When I have kids they will learn to shoot and they will not be allowed to have toy guns.

Good on you, mate.

182: If they want to stop the violence, they should ban the Koran.

And the Holy Bible.

SlappyKincaid: Glad to know I'm not the only one out there who thinks like this!

Nope, you're not alone. Fun anecdote(s) time: when I was young, I was snoopy like every other kid. I went poking around the house and found my dad's personal defense piece. So, what did I do? Knowing that this was a tool with a sole purpose of killing, I put it right back untouched, noting its location in case there was ever anyone or anything that needed killing.

My brother and I were both given rifles when each of us turned eight. We then spent the next two years learning proper handling, care, and gun safety. For our tenth birthdays, Dad took each of us out to finally shoot our rifle. This has ingrained in both of us a deep and fundamental understanding of the great responsibility that is firearm ownership.

I've tried to do the same with my son, but I've been cut off at the knees by my baby's mama and, ironically enough, my Dad, who was so insistent that my brother and I not have toy guns. Something about being a grandparent that addles the sensibilities, eh?

Occam's Chainsaw:

Nope, you're not alone. Fun anecdote(s) time: when I was young, I was snoopy like every other kid. I went poking around the house and found my dad's personal defense piece. So, what did I do? Knowing that this was a tool with a sole purpose of killing, I put it right back untouched, noting its location in case there was ever anyone or anything that needed killing.

My brother and I were both given rifles when each of us turned eight. We then spent the next two years learning proper handling, care, and gun safety. For our tenth birthdays, Dad took each of us out to finally shoot our rifle. This has ingrained in both of us a deep and fundamental understanding of the great responsibility that is firearm ownership.

I've tried to do the same with my son, but I've been cut off at the knees by my baby's mama and, ironically enough, my Dad, who was so insistent that my brother and I not have toy guns. Something about being a grandparent that addles the sensibilities, eh?

Good for you!!! I think its so important children learn the fundamentals and also understand the need for respect for firearms.

By getting them to understand the consequences of their actions and what firearms can do, you are helping to ensure they will only use them in the proper manner!

I don't know about your son's mom though... have you tried taking her to the range and educating her about firearms as well?

My girlfriend has been converted and now really enjoys going shooting with me. I have a rather decent collection and she enjoys trying new guns and wants to join a league with me, so I know it can be done!

:)

Even IF this were a good idea with some actual effect, kids would just pick up sticks and use those as pretend-guns, thus negating this stupidity.

I don't approve of any toy guns except the neon-fluorescent space-phaser-shaped Super Soaker type, because those don't look a thing like real ones. Lookalikes are just dangerous and, as said above, don't teach proper respect for guns.

My folks were superliberals who didn't allow any sort of toy gun until I was old enough to buy one with my own money. I went for an electric-pink spacemonkey squirty one largely out of sci-fi fondness and peer pressure in an A/C-free neighborhood. It bore closer resemblance to a sex toy than a gun, looking back on it. Within two years, I had upgraded to paintball and in college, a good friend taught me how to shoot, clean, maintain and deeply respect actual firearms.

I think I'll start my kids on paintball guns at about age seven, real ones at 12 if they earn it, and squirtguns only if the cost of freon goes way up in summertime -though, to be fair, I learned more of tactics and strategy from my squirtgun than any videogame before or since.

/my godson, 5, likes to play 'StarCraft' with my old Super Soaker
//walks around quoting the Terran Ghost
///he and another kid take turns wearing a sleeping bag on their heads to be a Zurg colony
////totally my pacifist geek fiance's doing

At least they still have the freedom to play with fake IEDs.

Iraq might just make it after all.
Taking away rights to protect precious snowflakes (sandflakes?) instead of religious fundamentalism.

binnster: At least they still have the freedom to play with fake IEDs.

Ban innocuous-looking boxes!!!

OMG!! Bush was right. They are developing a democracy like ours!

Dear Fark,

If we keep this up for a while, can we have a tag just like Florida?

Love,
Iraq

Awwww, they want to be just like us.

Shouldn't we ban the real ones first?

On the surface, you want to make fun of this motion. Seems completely absurd, especially to a gun-loving nation like our own. But early childhood socialization really does have a huge effect on society as a whole over generations.

Doing something like this would take a generation or two to really show any kind of progress, but it would actually do something. Problem is, however, the problems that lead to America demanding the second Amendment (protect against the government and discourage foreign invasion) is even more of a possibility in the Mid-East.

So, the paradox: Without an armed populace, Iraq would be easy prey for just about anyone in the area with aspirations of more plentiful oil. But if no country in the Middle East makes the first move to create a peaceful society and instead clings to their warlike ways (America says "Yo") because everyone else does, nothing will ever change and they will remain forever a constant state of explosive rage.

Matters like this are best solved by minds much smarter than my own. Too bad we have a semi-literate man-child running things.

So if you factor in the killings, silly bans, and foreigners coming in over the boarder, Iraq is basically California.

Fine, but if they try to ban "Little Abdul's first IED" playkit from toy stores then I'm writing a letter.

MugzyBrown: So if you factor in the killings, silly bans, and foreigners coming in over the boarder, Iraq is basically California.

Does that mean Iran or the USA is Mexico?

MugzyBrown: So if you factor in the killings, silly bans, and foreigners coming in over the boarder, Iraq is basically California.

Baghdad girls are hip, I really dig the burkas they wear
And the Basrah girls, with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there.

Occam's Chainsaw: SlappyKincaid: Glad to know I'm not the only one out there who thinks like this!

Nope, you're not alone. Fun anecdote(s) time: when I was young, I was snoopy like every other kid. I went poking around the house and found my dad's personal defense piece. So, what did I do? Knowing that this was a tool with a sole purpose of killing, I put it right back untouched, noting its location in case there was ever anyone or anything that needed killing.

My brother and I were both given rifles when each of us turned eight. We then spent the next two years learning proper handling, care, and gun safety. For our tenth birthdays, Dad took each of us out to finally shoot our rifle. This has ingrained in both of us a deep and fundamental understanding of the great responsibility that is firearm ownership.

I've tried to do the same with my son, but I've been cut off at the knees by my baby's mama and, ironically enough, my Dad, who was so insistent that my brother and I not have toy guns. Something about being a grandparent that addles the sensibilities, eh?

My father was a federal agent, and we had a small armory in my home. I was taught for as long as I can remember to respect firearms. That said, I was also allowed toy guns. I think teaching the difference between toys and the real thing is more important. Granted, I'm much more of an education and not protection minded guy. I'm just saying you can't get rid of toy guns, friends always have them, boys are always going to run around playing 'war'.

It doesn't mean that I don't understand the horrors of what's going on.

Also:

SpiderQueenDemon: /my godson, 5, likes to play 'StarCraft' with my old Super Soaker
//walks around quoting the Terran Ghost
///he and another kid take turns wearing a sleeping bag on their heads to be a Zurg colony
////totally my pacifist geek fiance's doing

That is amazing.

So Iraqi parliamentarians are hippies?

Dr.Salvador: Shouldn't we ban the real ones first?

Iraq is already ahead of you on that one. Iraqis have no right to bear arms, and the Maliki government is pushing a policy that only police and military officials are allowed to have guns.

Freedom is on the march!

Wow, they got the nanny State going before they even have a functioning government. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! God Bless 'Merica.

*wipes tear from bald eagles eye*

TMBGfreak:
My father was a federal agent, and we had a small armory in my home. I was taught for as long as I can remember to respect firearms. That said, I was also allowed toy guns. I think teaching the difference between toys and the real thing is more important. Granted, I'm much more of an education and not protection minded guy. I'm just saying you can't get rid of toy guns, friends always have them, boys are always going to run around playing 'war'.





Very true! Boys will always be boys in this respect and I'm glad you were able to discern real from fake!

I think my point is that the more I can reinforce the fact that guns are not toys, the better... and to me this means my kids wont have toys guns (super soakers aside, of course!!!)

But I'm also not going to tell anyone else how to raise their kids and if its acceptable to other parents thats fine by me!!!

Bunch of San Fransisco Liberals in that Iraqi Parliament, I'm telling ya!

SlappyKincaid
I dont think they should ban these as toys but I dont think Children should play with toy guns.

As a gun owner, I think its important to teach children about firearms, that they are not a toy, can be dangerous when not properly used and should be respected at all times.

When I have kids they will learn to shoot and they will not be allowed to have toy guns.

Toy guns are awesome. The best memories I had as a child was playing war out in the woods behind our house with my buddies. Laser tag was the bomb. Kids aren't stupid, they know the difference.

Kids today are pampered so much through school, they flip out when they get to the real world.

Just make sure they don't get their hands on the next GTA. Then they'll really have problems.

/sarcasm off

MFL: Toy guns are awesome. The best memories I had as a child was playing war out in the woods behind our house with my buddies. Laser tag was the bomb. Kids aren't stupid, they know the difference.

Kids today are pampered so much through school, they flip out when they get to the real world.


Seconded.

My parents never had a problem with toy guns. (Although my parents never owned any real firearms.)

However, any time we went over to my Grandpa's house, I was reminded that I would be in a world of hurt if I touched his rifles hanging up in his home office. (The door was locked when nobody was in there.)

Around the time I was 7, my Grandpa grabbed one of his .22's and taught me proper gun safety, and we had a fun time putting holes in Pepsi cans.

/It's kind of amusing how my parents never (still don't own) firarms, and I became a gun hobbyist and NRA member.

The_Sponge: /It's kind of amusing how my parents never owned (still don't own) firarms firearms


FTFM.

/It's Friday.
//Sure I'll have more typos today.

Islamic facepalm

This is an idea with a noble sentiment, but.... goddamn! Priorities people!

This reminds me of the British part of the coalition working to implement a stop smoking program just after Baghdad had been invaded.

WTF? Yeah, cigarettes can kill, but those bullets flying just over your head will do it a whole hell of a lot faster. Pay attention to those first.

I guess next on the agenda will be to decide on pass a resolution announcing the official ice cream flavor of Iraq.

===============================================

Actually I see this as a sign of the Iraqi parliament's utter haplessness in this situation. They're almost totally powerless to do ANYTHING effective dealing with the situation Iraq is in, so they do stuff like a toy gun ban or seat belt enforcement in a pathetic attempt to get the population to remember that they exist at all.

It's all for naught anyway. The only thing keeping the Iraqi parliament from being overrun by various militia groups is about 120,000 tired, burnt out and pissed of American troops, many on their fourth deployment out there and most just wanting to get the fark home.

If I were in the Iraqi parliament, I would grab all of the money in the treasury I could and hightail it to Switzerland.


It would be a whole lot smarter than just sitting around passing meaningless resolutions until the Americans pull out and the angry locals come to slit my throat.

MFL:

As a gun owner, I think its important to teach children about firearms, that they are not a toy, can be dangerous when not properly used and should be respected at all times.

When I have kids they will learn to shoot and they will not be allowed to have toy guns.

Toy guns are awesome. The best memories I had as a child was playing war out in the woods behind our house with my buddies. Laser tag was the bomb. Kids aren't stupid, they know the difference.

Kids today are pampered so much through school, they flip out when they get to the real world.



I agree with most of what you said! I had toys guns as a kid and loved them. But I also didnt grow up in a house with firearms.

Since I own firearms, I want there to be no confusion as to the status of said guns. To teach them that guns should be respected and how to properly use them, only to have them then go play shoot em up with realistic looking toy guns doesn't seem right to me!

Kids are too pampered but not on this issue. My kids will have to earn an "xbox" and understand the value of work versus reward but on the gun issue, I stand firm in my belief that since I own guns, they will not have toy ones!

SlappyKincaid I agree with most of what you said! I had toys guns as a kid and loved them. But I also didnt grow up in a house with firearms.

Since I own firearms, I want there to be no confusion as to the status of said guns. To teach them that guns should be respected and how to properly use them, only to have them then go play shoot em up with realistic looking toy guns doesn't seem right to me!

Kids are too pampered but not on this issue. My kids will have to earn an "xbox" and understand the value of work versus reward but on the gun issue, I stand firm in my belief that since I own guns, they will not have toy ones!

I wasn't criticizing your comment, as much as just putting my two cents in.

That's cool you have responsible beliefs and your kids are lucky to have you. I'm a believer that kids are smart enough to know the difference between fantasy and reality if brought up responsibly. The problem in our society to day is the resposibility part has seemed to take a back seat to "feeling good about yourself". It seems you've got a good grasp on that.

Are they allowed to have water guns though? Those things are just fun. Excepting the fact that I don't think Iraq has running water for more than a quarter of the day.

Chances are Iraq's children will be better people when they grow up than the adults there now. That's more than you can say for the US (though, of course, we won't know for sure until it's too late). Good job, parents, educators, and government staff!

Zero tolerance rules are obviously the way to go.

Why would they reject violence in all its forms? IF you look to the people who have power they use violence in all it's forms to enforce their will. Might makes right. The U.S. loves to say violence is bad, until the cops come and let you know that violence gets things done.

If you outlaw toy guns, then only outlaws will have toy guns.