Plastic Guns Lead to Plastic Indignation

A kids' plastic water pistol as a giveaway at a public library? That'll draw the burning indignation of some Albany, NY politicians, who insist that children should not be furnished "a replica of a firearm."

So the kids can go to the library and check out murder mysteries, and read encyclopedias containing entries from the Holocaust to Jack the Ripper, and thumb through newspapers documenting the latest mayhem in Iraq — no sweat.

They hear stories about how the West was won — with guns — and about the time when Uncle Pete went duck hunting and brought home fourteen plump birds. No problem.

But the moment they get their hands on a see-through plastic water gun, that's when these bright-eyed, towheaded little angels turn into the second coming of Dylan Klebold. Or something.

I detest the pandering and the manufactured, double-standard moral panic evident in cases like these — a nanny specialty born of the same impulse that leads to calls for a ban on violent movies or shoot-'em-up video games.

Earth to Albany: A plastic water gun is no more a replica of a firearm than a ring from a Crackerjack box is a replica of the Hope diamond.

Let's please all get a grip, shall we?

Comments

[Karl B]

Maybe water guns are a "gateway" gun. Squirt guns lead to Cap guns. Cap guns lead to Airsoft. Airsoft leads to BB guns and you could put an eye out with one of those!