Calling Guns Toys

S

Shadi Khalil

New member
We see it and hear it all the time, people talking about their new "Range toy". Usually it's in reference to a fun gun that won't see any serious SD duty, contenders, 500, C&R stuff extra. Well, I never paid it any mind till I saw a post title last night that read "my new CCW toy" or something to that affect.

A couple people commented on the poor use of toy when referring to any gun, something I kind of agree with. What do you all think? Is it in bad taste to refer to any gun as a toy or is it acceptable in some circumstance? Does it put fun owners in a bad light and make us seem irresponsible? Lastly, how might it reflect on a young person who has no firearms safety training?

Just curious of everyone's views on the matter...

Thanks.
 
To me firearms are a tool. They are also an item of sports equipment no different than a set of golf clubs or a tennis racket. Under no circumstance are they a toy or to be referred to as a toy.
 
CCW firearm can be used as a serious tool or for fun recreation.....just need to take the comment in proper context.
 
An interesting question. I think context is important. I think you have to know your audience. Talking about a new "toy" here is not something that is going to draw too much notice, I think.

We use toy in the sense of something that is part of our recreational pursuits, although that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't have value in other roles. The same firearm can be fun to shoot at the range (a toy) or used to put meat on the table (a tool) or to defend against a bad guy (a weapon). Calling any gun, and maybe a CCW in particular, a toy around an unknowing non-gun type, or a child may be a bad idea. My fishing boat is a "toy" that when used has to be taken seriously. There are rules that must be followed. My grandchildren know that adult toys require skill and knowledge to operate safely, and a certain maturity is needed to "play" with them. I think most thinking adults understand that as well. I know folks who I do not talk about guns around. Some of them might be offended by use of "toy" to describe a gun. In that context, I just avoid the conversation.
 
A couple people commented on the poor use of toy when referring to any gun, something I kind of agree with. What do you all think? Is it in bad taste to refer to any gun as a toy or is it acceptable in some circumstance? Does it put fun owners in a bad light and make us seem irresponsible? Lastly, how might it reflect on a young person who has no firearms safety training?

Just curious of everyone's views on the matter...

Thanks.
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The bold typed above is the only aspect of it I would give a second thought. The antis are going to mischaracterize anything we say and if we don't say anything, they'll make something up. I quit caring about feeding their stupidity a long time ago.
 
I think some people take some things too seriously.

To me it's all about context. Here on a gun forum I don't see an issue with calling a firearm a toy. If you're teaching a gun safety class to a bunch of new shooters, however, then it may be a bit inappropriate.
 
With you, all the way !!

Is it in bad taste to refer to any gun as a toy or is it acceptable in some circumstance?
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It should never be acceptable, in any gun related circumstance. I too have noted the use of this term and to be honest, just let it pass when it sould not be tolerated. It reflect on the maturity of the person, using it. ..... :cool:

I teach hunter safety and the four basic guidelines to gun handling. I always discourage this term and attitude.

I thank you for your post ..... :D

Be Safe !!!
 
Shadi Khalil said:
....Lastly, how might it reflect on a young person who has no firearms safety training?
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Hard to believe that any "young person with no firearm safety training" would be stupid enough to think a real firearm would be equated with a "toy". To assume that's a possibility is a premise often used by the "Politically Correct" word & thought police looking out for the good of the "children".

I'm all for using proper terminology to describe something in the context of a technical or educational setting. The use the word toy in a loose conversational context shouldn't cause any heartburn.
 
I don't consider firearms "toys" by any means, but i have heard several people in context say "got myself a new toy."

honestly, i would consider the first time taking it out the only time i can say it's acceptable. It demonstrates the pleasure of a new firearm and doesn't sound as forced as "i acquired a new firearm today"

I guess it's a matter of "know your audience." You shouldn't call it a toy in front of young/new shooters, or around children, but i don't see anything wrong when referring to a recent purchase among adult friends who know you take the sport/hobby/safety seriously.

I've seen far more people try to be more serious and "hardcore" about firearms who then botch basics like not muzzle flagging the line or ceiling, or keeping their fingers in the trigger guard.
 
I wonder if you're familiar with the concept of "understatement." It's where one purposefully mischaracterizes something through minimizing it for the purpose of humor or just being light hearted.

In other words, lighten up, Francis.

When somebody refers to a gun as a "toy" or a "pea shooter," that person is highly unlikely to be describing it as a plaything for children or as being harmless. He or she is likely only using understatement in a hyperbolic fashion to describe the acquisition as being something obtained simply "just because."

If you're going to worry about everything you do regarding guns for how the antis might see it, you're going to have a very stressful and narrowly explored time with the hobby. If you're constantly worrying about how kids might see it, there may be a point, but even then kids can understand the concept of figurative speech.

If I or others refer to our guns as "toys" and it harks you off, well, as I said- lighten up. Not everything needs to be brooded over. We can enjoy our toys in a safe and responsible fashion. :p
 
I have to go with the "Lighten up, Francis," crowd.

My Harley was a toy. My 4x4 is a toy. My ZTR mower is a toy. When and if I find the right used Beechcraft Bonanza, it will be a toy.

Any one of those toys is potentially deadly.

Context and audience may matter.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Like I said before, it never thought about it until I saw toy coupled with CCW and then the subsequent responses. I understand stand like most things, context and audience are key. I really just wanted to get a conversation going, I'm not venting or anything like that.

Techno, you familiar with the term devils advocate?
;)
 
Shadi Khalil said:
A couple people commented on the poor use of toy when referring to any gun, something I kind of agree with. What do you all think? Is it in bad taste to refer to any gun as a toy or is it acceptable in some circumstance? Does it put fun owners in a bad light and make us seem irresponsible? Lastly, how might it reflect on a young person who has no firearms safety training?
Click to expand...
Considering that I just returned home after sharing dinner at a Burger King with a good friend who is a fellow Army veteran, and that I opened our after-dinner conversation by relating that yesterday I took my new "toy" to the range to try out ... I guess it's safe to say that I don't see any problem with it. Someone above mentioned that context is important, and I agree. I certainly don't use "toy" to describe all firearms to all people, but neither do I refer to every firearm as a "weapon." And we all know (or should) that "guns" are found on Naval vessels and large military vehicles, so if we're being technically correct we shouldn't be calling our ___ "guns," especially not to novices whom we would like to see learn correct terminology.

In other hobbies, some people who (as an example) drive a pickup for work every day keep a Mustang or a Corvette in the garage to drive on weekends. Is it wrong for them to refer to said vehicle as a "toy"? I would say it is not wrong and, if it isn't wrong to refer to a car that is maintained and used for non-essential, pleasureful activity, why should it be any different than a firearm? Yeah, "guns" are tools. So are motor vehicles, but some tools provide more enjoyment than other tools.

I own two or three handguns that I rotate as carry weapons. Whatever other firearms I own (the old Mauser M48, the Ruger Single Six, the junk 1911 receiver with a .22 caliber conversion kit on it) have no purpose in my life other than shooting for fun (and practice, but mostly fun. There's little about shooting an 8mm bolt-action Mauser rifle that directly translates to practice for self defense with a handgun). In practical terms, that makes them toys. If that's what they are, why is it in any way irresponsible to refer to them as such?

To the gentleman who implied (rather directly) that calling a firearm a "toy" is immature -- let me state for the record that I am officially a senior citizen, I am a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in Vietnam and who has a couple of (minor level) decorations to show for it, I have been licensed to carry handguns in multiple states for multiple decades, and I am an NRA-certified instructor in four different disciplines. I do not consider myself immature, nor does anyone who knows me.
 
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A "toy" is something I enjoy spending time with.

A "toy" is something that brings me joy.

Do I call my guns toys? Generally, no....

However, I *do* use the word "toys" as a catch-all to describe all the...well...toys that I get to play with at the office. Note that said toys generally have yellow bands on them. Why? Because I enjoy playing with them; they are the reason why I work where I work. If I didn't get to play, I'd find employment elsewhere.
 
Sometimes when the kids were little they'd ask if they could play with a gun when they wanted to see one. I made the distinction to them that we don't "play" with guns, we "handle" them.

Calling a gun a toy is no big deal. It's just slang talk.
 
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