Gun-ho!

My son was entranced when he realised that he already possessed such an arsenal, shifted to guns guns of varying shapes, sizes and brands, and they discuss the merits of each. My son was entranced when he realised that he already possessed such an arsenal, and suddenly his interest shifted to guns from origami, somewhat radically! After days of nagging, one rainy day in the school holidays when I was swamped with work, I relented and let the boys unpack a toy gun each. They were enchanted and excited in equal measure, and set up an impressive tower of toilet rolls to use as targets. As I gradually grew into the idea, they played with the toys in the backyard, through the house, and I got used to the familiar click-click-click as the magazine was slid into position prior to taking aim.

But recently, innocently enough, they took their toy guns out on the street to play. We share the street with friendly neighbours and their broods, and suddenly, after all, I don’t like guns of any kind, real, imaginary or toy, and I don’t want to have anything to do with them. But this attitude came by only in my teens after comprehending how much destruction these weapons were capable of, which horrified and frightened me. Besides wars, stories of gun abuse from the United States have fuelled this disinclination of guns into a robust dislike.

But looking back at my own childhood, I realise that as kids, we played games with guns too. Not the sophisticated weaponry that’s available now that apes the originals to a frightening degree, but idiotic sticks that we carried around yelling ‘Bang, bang, bang!’, or silly plastic toy revolvers that made a sound suspiciously like someone was inopportunely passing wind. They interested and amused us, we enjoyed them and they never really did us any video games of gore like Halo and Call of Duty that fascinate 11-12 year olds with their brutality? And the biggest torment of all – do I take away the innocence of their gun games by conjuring up visions of bloody mayhem and destruction to stop them from playing with toys to which I have a personal abhorrence? Shouldn’t they be given the opportunity to understand and make up their own minds when they are older?

“It’s just a game to them, and playing with guns in moderation is okay,” said a friend, renowned for her common sense and practicality.

“They see their friends playing with guns, it’s simply the current influence of their peers. Like most other fads, this too will come and go. When some other idiotic toy becomes popular, they’ll forget all about guns!”

I agree with her reasoning.

We’ve been through it all before – the fascination with Ben Ten, at anyone, and never at adults. Nor can they use the toy guns to threaten or cajole. They play the usual games of running races, yelling competitions or riding their bikes with the other children, but not with toy guns, specially when the littler ones are around. And it hasn’t been difficult for them to accept these terms. They have a good time, as their desire to play with guns is satiated, and they only whinge when the darts disappear into the bushes.

But my innate fear and dislike for guns has barely receded. I will take the occasional pot-shot at a target to let them know that mum’s aim isn’t that bad, but it’s always with a sense of inexplicable apprehension. As their skills in marksmanship are being honed, I won’t object too vociferously. But I will keep my fingers crossed for the next fad to kick in – perhaps knitting, crochet or even pottery… I wish!