As a Boy Scouts merit badge councilor for rifle shooting and shotgun shooting as well as an NRA certified range master, Hunter Safety Certification Instructor and concealed carry permit holder, I think I am in a qualified position to discuss this issue.
I believe this is a sound change to policy. Just as the change in policy to ban Scouts from doing paintball gun fights as an authorized activity.
There is only a limited time to teach Scouts about gun safety. Many have never touched a gun before in their lives before I see them at the range.
On one hand we go to great lengths to teach the Five Elements of Gun Safety, and then send them out to shoot each other? That doesn’t make sense.
And many squirt guns have advanced to be near identical copies of real firearms.
Any of you remember the child shot and killed by police for waving a repro Airsoft gun at Police? As an element of my instructions for merit badges, I explain proper gun handling as treating every “gun” as real. It is just common sense and reinforcement that someone may mistake their toy as real. And if they are waving it around carelessly, something bad might happen.
I could care less what they do in their back yard, but when they wear their Class A uniform, they know to treat all guns as real and with respect.
It isn’t a game.
Rule number 1 of military diversity training is that a female must be front and center on every public photo.