Toy Guns: A Timeless Classic or Danger in Disguise?

What comes to mind when one thinks of a Toy guns? Usually, a brightly colored gun-shaped plastic device that’s small enough for a child to hold comfortably, but large enough that it could be seen as “fun for the entire family.” Toy guns are generally designed to look like classic machine guns, but marketed to children by painting them in fun colors and having foam artillery. In today’s cultural climate, the attitude most people have toward guns, even fake ones,  has radically shifted as a result of mass shootings that so often dominate the news. Toy guns have been a staple of the modern “all American childhood” and this has been widely regarded as a response to a child’s need “to resolve competitiveness and form friendships,” (New York Times). Conversely, in Michelle Ruiz’s article, “Should We Still Let Children Play With Toy Guns?” centers around the fairly new argument that toy guns can create behavioral patterns that incite  violence in children from a young age by encouraging them to use friends and families as a sort of “target.” The toy gun market has not changed much in the past 100 years, although the culture surrounding these toys has shifted dramatically as a result of mass gun violence.

Children using toy guns as an outlet to explore their outside world, while also crafting a world of their own, is deeply rooted in American culture. According to Wayne Charness, the vice president of Hasbro, “the reality is that children have played fantasy games involving the triumph of good over evil for centuries,” (New York Times). Allowing children the room to grow up and feel as though they have control over their space has been one of the main arguments for the allowance of toy guns. Most feel as though children need to have the autonomy to play out fantasy situations where they can protect their space. (New York Times)  Additionally, toy guns have undergone remodeling in recent years to make them more recognizable as children’s toys so that there is less of a chance for them to be mistaken as real weaponry. 

As America has experienced a resurgence of mass-shootings and gun violence, many parents have understandably become more weary of allowing their children to play with toys that have any violent connotations. Anna Davies explains “My daughter is just three, but I don’t think a gun can be an innocent toy in this day and age,” (Ruiz). The reputation of toy guns has been tainted by the immensely dark consumer culture of easy access to weapons in America. Ruiz argues that though there may be claims that these toys are not detrimental to children’s development, there is a strong correlation that toys like Barbie contribute to the negative body image issues; therefore it is not hard to see why some people suggest that toy guns can also become dangerous to the mental health of children. 

The question of whether American society should become more conscious of the effects of toy guns on children has remained widely debated. As toys have evolved to become more realistic and interactive, they have been evaluated for their effects on the psyche of a child. Yet, toy guns remain a staple within most children’s childhoods. As more fatal gun-related tragedies occur across America, it becomes more evident that there is a need for reform regarding the attitude and acceptance of children playing with toy guns. 

 

Works Cited

The New York Times. “Toy Guns: Do They Fan Aggression?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 June 1988, https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/16/garden/toy-guns-do-they-fan-aggression.html.Accessed 11 September 2019

Ruiz, Michelle. “Should We Still Let Children Play With Toy Guns?” Vogue, Vogue, 11 June 2018, https://www.vogue.com/article/are-toy-guns-okay-for-kids-in-2018. Accessed 11 September 2019