Quote Originally Posted by ClockworkOrange View Post
Going slightly off topic, it always amuses me when parents will not let their children play with toy guns! So they end up using pieces of Lego or sticks, with the same result.
This is a discussion I have with every second-year group I teach (Teaching Degree).
I believe it is important to allow this play, because as you say, it will happen regardless.
Therefore, gun-play should be seen as opportunity.

We can teach children about safety (never point guns/rifles at people, is the rifle cocked, have you broken open your shotgun)
Also, in New Zealand, this is about conservation... we have a high number of introduced species here, so the hunting of deer, possums and rabbits is vital to preserving our native bird-life and our forests. Humans are the only natural predators here.