Disarming the toy box - Providence program destroys children’s toy guns (Barf alert!)

The Boston Globe ^ | December 19, 2010 | Maria Cramer

[neverdem]

PROVIDENCE — Dominic Johnson, a 10-year-old fourth-grader with a fledgling Mohawk, brandished his black, long-nosed toy gun and caressed the muzzle appreciatively.

“It’s like a shotgun mixed with a rifle,’’ he said, as his mother, April, told him to stop pointing it at nearby children.

Soon it would be junk.

Dominic joined dozens of children yesterday at the annual Toy Gun Bash in the gymnasium of Pleasant View Elementary School. There, they lined up to toss their toy guns, from dainty purple water guns to camouflage-painted pistols, inside the Bash-O-Matic, a large black, foam creature with churning metal teeth and the shape of a cockroach spliced with a frog.

Prodded by Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, who wore a fuzzy Santa hat, the children stared curiously as the Bash-O-Matic mashed up their guns and digested them into a plastic bin near its tail.

“He ate it,’’ squealed one delighted little girl.

’Tis the season for joy, peace, and grinding up plastic, orange-tipped AK-47s.

For seven years, Providence municipal and law enforcement officials have organized the event around Christmastime as a way to raise awareness of the dangers of playing with guns, real or fake. The event is a mix of the macabre and the playful, a children’s version of the gun buyback program in which adults trade firearms for gift certificates.

Yesterday, younger children ran through a rubber obstacle course while officials told...

--snip--

“It’s one piece of what needs to happen around this issue,’’ said Levin, coauthor of “The War Play Dilemma.’’ “There is also this side of [children] trying to understand why are there guns there, and why do people use them? When kids are getting all kinds of other messages about guns, it’s a more complicated issue than just having one day about how guns are bad.’’

[TLI]

Golly. Isn’t that sweet!

I have to wonder what those "progressive" kids are going to think when they come face to face with "other" kids. Because when growing up the "other" kids were also educated about “There is also this side of [children] trying to understand why are there guns there, and why do people use them?

These kids will have a very clear understanding.

or these;

or these;

You see, "those kids" will have grown up understanding the "other side" of why guns are there is to KILL the evil Americans that were oh so "progressive" when they brainwashed their own kids with "guns are bad" lunacy.

Put on a "fuzzy Santa hat" and explain THAT to the “progressive” parents Mr. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch. How about both of you, Diane E. Levin (Author), Nancy Carlsson-Paige (Author) jump in there as well?

.

[atomic_dog]

I think I'll buy a couple of airsoft guns, wrap them up and drop them off at Toys for Tots.

My kid used to love playing with them. I think it was a good influence as he now shoots a M777 for the USMC.

[Iron Munro]

I have to wonder what those "progressive" kids are going to think when they come face to face with "other" kids.

And then they grow up to be parents (and GFW's) who think it is a social service to drag their kids to events like this so they can become GFW's as well.

Heed these words:

"Our Country won't go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won't be any AMERICA because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race!"

-- Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC
(one of the greatest American military leaders and warriors in the history of our country)

[Bernard Marx]

I'm waiting (not holding my breath) for the first Hollywood prop gun bash. If little boys fantasize about guns, it's gun-glorifying films made by Hollywood anti-gun hypocrites that helped create that fantasy. (I've owned guns all my life and deplore dumb stunts like this one).

Hollywood is the prime source of funds for liberal causes of all kinds. Yet there's never a peep from anti-gunners about the hypocritical excesses of gun violence in movies and TV.

[swarthyguy]

In Sebastian Junger’s Afghan war documentary, “Restrepo”, there is an Army lad who was denied guns as a kid, being brought up by a hippie mother who even confiscated a squirting turtle!

One of his regrets in firing his 50Caliber gun at jihadis was not being able to see them when they die!

[oyez]

I had a generous collection of toy guns growing up. (as most other boys) Even at the Saturday matinee we witnessed multiple shootings each week. As it turned out , my generation didn't turn into Visigoths.

These days, the liberals and the play police with their indoctrinations and prohibitions have imparted a "mystique" to firearms. Many young people are attracted to the ownership of fire arms for the wrong reasons.

[HungarianGypsy]

Meanwhile, my in-laws’ gave my boys swords and nerf guns. YES!!!

[mbynack]

These days, the liberals and the play police with their indoctrinations and prohibitions have imparted a "mystique" to firearms. Many young people are attracted to the ownership of fire arms for the wrong reasons.

Good analysis. I bet most of the inner-city gang-bangers never had a toy gun or spent time with their parents being taught responsible gun ownership.

[B4Ranch]

Did you read about the 12 yr old girl who used Moms .22 to defend the home from burglars? It’s on Banglist

[Dead Corpse]

Yep. I think I responded that my daughter wants a similar model rifle. 7 years old and already prefers wood grain (albeit pink) to synthetic and stainless to blued.

I must be raising her right. ;-)

[Dead Corpse]

Yep. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2644086/posts

#61. ;-)