Why do we still have toy guns?

I'm not sure.  
Just one thing that I was like, "That's weird."  She was supposed to be the narrarator?  I thought the play was disjointed, but I was biased since it wasn't my kid's school lol.  That school didn't win.  But then again, neither did my kid's school.  I don't know.  I'm no thespian.  But I don't like guns pointed at me.  Keep your itchy trigger finger to yourself lol.  

This. I have observed over the years that kids make guns out of everything, despite a ban on guns in our schools.

ITs not children’s programming, it’s life?

Maybe it’s because I work with kids and majored in psych and education, but as anti gun as I am, i have ZERO issues with kids pretend playing with guns. I’ve never met a three year old pretending to be a school shooter but he sure as hell wants to be a cop or a soldier because our society idolizes these people as HEROS and they carry guns. These are people who train to protect us and we teach our kids they are GOOD guys and they carry guns.

So yup. Three year olds look up to heros. Heros in every single country carry some kind of weapon to keep us safe. Kids pretend and their make believe is modeled after what they know of adult life.

So when a five year old wants to pretend to be a cop and take down the bad guys? Go for it little buddy.

And like I said—I’m as anti gun as they come.

But a super soaker water gun, which I had growing up, has never been linked to a mass shooting.

I appreciate the answer because I am actually curious. But I dont think its "life". I went to school with a ton of kids whose parent were cops. Their guns were absolutely not on display, at school or at home. The cops and robbers stuff--thats kids programming. Even kids whose parents own guns and hunt aren't pointing them at people. The play that our kids mimick doesn't come from everyday experience. I think it's problem our culture is so saturated with this stuff. And I think we should acknowledge it comes from conscious adult decisions (often times about marketing something) not just out of nowhere.

The infatuation with guns is something you won't find in Norway. I think we rank number 9 or 10 on the list of countries with the highest number of privately owned guns, but, barring a right wing terrorist attack a few years ago, we don't have (knock on wood) seen any mass shootings. Until "Heimevernet" (a part of the military meant for guerilla warfare should we ever get occupied again) decided that service weapons should be stored in one place in each community, and not in people's homes (my dad stored his AG3 in his closet when I grew up), there was maybe a case or two every decade where a man killed himself and his family. We have "Det frivillige skyttervesen", which is gun enthusiasts who are expected to help the military should we again face invasion and occupation. Every year there's a large competition aired on national TV where they pick the best shooters. Hunting is also a very common activity, and the moose hunt each autumn is huge! People are divided into teams and are allocated different areas and given quotas, and the local newspapers around the country will publish the result of the hunt. I know people who will use all their vacation days for hunting different animals. So we definitely have a gun culture and lots of weapons, but the purchase of guns are regulated. You have to apply for a permit, and you will only be granted one if you have a valid reason. Hunting and competition shooting are the only acceptable ones. If you cite you need it for protection, you will not get it (and I suspect you will be flagged so you won't get one for hunting if you should try that route later). We do not have automatic weapons owned by private citizens (with the exception of a few, very carefully screened, collectors). It is a system that works just fine. If you need a weapon, you will get it, if you don't, you won't. And if you have a history of mental health problems or a criminal record, you won't get a liscense. 

I'm another one who never allowed toy guns in the house. Not even water guns that look like guns... I didn't mind the "space marine water blaster" or whatever.... but not one that looked like a real gun. Probably a silly distinction, but there you go...  

My son was mostly into swords and space marine blasters, etc. and I didn't mind that as much. Yes swords could kill people. But we don't turn on the news and hear "man kills three with Kind Arthur-style sword"...