With summer in full swing, the commercials and stores are full of the latest and greatest water guns available. Not only are they the biggest, but they can shoot further than ever before. I refuse to allow my son to play with them. You may be surprised to know that I come from a long line of hunters. I grew up eating venison and as an adult, I welcome it to my freezer. Gun safety and respect was something that was taught right along with manners and things like setting the table correctly or making my bed.
Guns are not toys. They are tools. Without respect for the power of a gun, you are a dangerous hunter. How good of a shot you are is irrelevant next to how well you know what you are aiming at. I do not want my boys to feel that a gun is a plaything. I do not let them spray/shoot water at each other or the children around them. If the neighbors child has a water gun, I gently remind my son that our family rule is that guns are for hunting or police to protect us with. He can then be easily distracted with an alternative thing to play with as can his formerly gun-toting friend. I don't believe that boys are drawn to guns because that's how boys are, I think they are drawn to the power that guns have. I think that that feeling of awe can easily be guided toward responsible gun handling and even hunting if that is what they desire. I do think that by allowing or enticing out boys to play with guns and think of them as toys, we are taking away that feeling of respect that an object that kills should have.
Instead of using a water gun this summer, try giving your sons empty squirt bottles or sprayer bottles to wet each other down with. If someone else in the neighborhood comes over with a water gun, be confident enough to stand up and say that you have a no weapons rule in your family and guns are not allowed.
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