Tango down

[khaosworks]

Nerf has a sniper rifle now.

Let me say that again.

A FREAKING SNIPER RIFLE.

3 feet long, range 35 feet. 12 darts in two quick reload clips. And a detachable scope. Can also break down into two smaller submachine gun-types, one with a fold-down bipod.

And they have a Nerf pistol with a LASER FINDER.

All part of the N-Strike range. For more N-Strike insanity, see here.

God, I want. Why didn't they have toys this cool when I was a kid?

*sob*

Comments

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

As left liberal as I am, it may surprise some people to know that — if my support for it counted for anything — I am a supporter of the 2nd Amendment.

Of course, I advocate some degree of gun control (well-regulated, after all), but I also advocate the responsible use of guns.

Eliminating toy guns sort of misses the point. The problem is not that they're learning that the bigger weapon is better. The problem is whether or not they are taught that violence is the correct answer to any conflict. Whether it's fisticuffs, or knives, or baseball bats, or IEDs, guns are just a tool. The removal of them doesn't get rid of violence; it just removes a means of doing so. The fundamental mis-lesson is more important.

In any case, Nerf weapons, despite their shape, do not resemble real world guns to any significant degree. I don't think you'll see a Glock being painted in bright orange, purple and green anytime soon, so I don't think the chance of confusing one with the other is all that high.

So, no, I wouldn't forbid children the use of toy guns. Because they're toys. I would teach them however, the qualitative difference between toys and the real thing. Kids are smart. They'll get the difference.

[batyatoon]

I've always kinda wondered why we don't ever see real weapons painted in bright day-glo colors.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Well, aside from the obvious tactical disadvantage of using a day-glo painted gun in the field, it just looks gay.

[batyatoon]

Oh, you wouldn't use it in the field, you'd use it in the city. Camouflaged as a toy!

...It's possible this goes in the category of Things I Shouldn't Say Out Loud On The Internets.

[filkergem.livejournal.com]

I've actually wondered about that myself from time to time for several years. Never actually come up with an answer - perhaps it has been done and everyone involved has been convinced that spreading the news about it would be a Bad Idea? I don't really believe that, so we'll just have to wonder.