12yo boy - 2 wwyd questions

[janey99]

1 - Would you buy a 12 yo boy an "airsoft" gun for his birthday?

2 - Would you let your 12-14 yo son attend a paintball birthday party, where they go to an outdoor course and have a paintball war, with weapons, padding and a supervising employee monitoring the game?

Apparently, "everyone else's mom" thinks both of these are totally non-controversial, so I'm just checking with everyone else's mom!

Jane

 

[wvjules]

1 - Yes
2 - Yes

Non-controversial to me as well.

 

[LuvLDM]

I would let my children attend a paintball party.

I don't know what an airsoft gun is

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Yes on both counts.
Not at all controversial.

 

[jen0610]

1 - Would you buy a 12 yo boy an "airsoft" gun for his birthday?

2 - Would you let your 12-14 yo son attend a paintball birthday party, where they go to an outdoor course and have a paintball war, with weapons, padding and a supervising employee monitoring the game?

Apparently, "everyone else's mom" thinks both of these are totally non-controversial, so I'm just checking with everyone else's mom!

Jane

#1 - If it was something that he was into - Yes. If it was just a whim him asking for it, no. Paintball can get VERY pricey.

#2 - HECK YA I'd let him go. And then I'd be sitting at home with the green-eyed monster over him getting to be there and not me. It really is fun to do.

 

[mickeylove2]

I don't have boys but I was a tomboy and have brothers, we all had paintball guns when we were kids. I don't see a big deal about it. I would say yes to both questions. Heck, I can't wait til my DDs are a little older so I can take them to a painball course myself. I just went with friends a couple of months ago and I'm 28. Oh so much fun!!!

 

[3Leafs]

My ds13 got his first one for his 12th bday but we have very strict rules on using it. Also as long as it is supervised I would let my son go. I am big time on enforcing strict rules when it comes to guns. My son has shown a great responsibility with them. I am definately NOT a gun person but I feel that he is adventually going to use them so he might as well be taught properly. But thats just me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Mother of a 12 year old here....

I would have no problem with either....

My son just attended a real 'shooting' event thru his scout troop.

People tend to make public controversy and pass judgement based on their own personal 'issues'.

 

[Pakey]

yes
yes

 

[Magpie]

If an airsoft gun is a paintball gun, then yes. But there would be some rules.

1. The gun is ONLY used on the paintball range/course/field whatever and I keep it the rest of the time. Those pellets can break windows and put out eyes, especially in the winter when they get frozen.

2. Protective goggles WILL be worn at all times when using the gun.

3. If you lose a testicle (happened to a friend of mine), I WILL say, "I told you so." Because I've never met a man or boy yet who's willing to wear a cup, and really, they all should.

4. And no b*tching if I decide to rent me a gun and to come out for a game or two myself.

Paintball is outrageously fun! Not totally safe, but definitely fun. I think it's fine for 12yo boys, but your son may be a bit shocked at just how much getting shot with a paint pellet hurts. Oh, and he'll have little round bruises, too! You can have fun counting them the day after.

 

[dislaney]

Not sure what an airsoft gun is so I'm not sure about that.

The party- sure!

 

[janey99]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I don't know anything about airsoft guns, that's his father's department, but they both want to get one and are looking to me for the OK.

For the party, this is what DS wants, and I know nothing about it and have no feel for if other moms would get an invitation like that and say "what kind of reckless mom throws a paintball party - no way is MY kid going!"

From the talk I hear, it would probably end up having as many dads at it as kids.

Jane

 

[KAMLEM]

Airsoft guns are not paintball guns. They shoot tiny little plastic balls.

 

[Acklander]

yes, and yes.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes and Yes!!! My son would love it and if there was a paintball course close to here that would have been a wonderful idea for his birthday.

 

[KiminChicago]

My son is 13. I'd guess about half of the parties he's been invited to have been paintball parties. I don't know of anyone around here who would find it controversial.

I have a friend with a son 5 years older than mine. When he was little she swore up, down and sideways that he would never have a toy gun and never play with one. She finally gave up that idea when she realized that he was building his own toy guns with his Lego blocks.

My son has two airsoft guns -- they are kind of like BB guns only they shoot little plastic balls.

Warning to anyone driving through Gatlinburg with a teen son -- almost every store has airsoft guns. It was all we could do on our vacation to walk down the street without having to drag DS away from all the shiny toys!

 

[Magpie]

Airsoft guns are not paintball guns. They shoot tiny little plastic balls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airsoft

Airsoft guns and playing airsoft is legal in most parts of the world. Some countries have specific restrictions [14] such as maximum muzzle velocity and 'unrealistic' coloring to distinguish them from actual firearms. They are legal throughout the U.S, but restrictions exist in certain cities such as Camden, Newark, NJ, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, and Colorado Springs, CO. The states of New Jersey and Michigan, however, do not allow airsoft guns to be used or handled publicly, because of the resemblance to real firearms. They may be used on private property with the consent of the owner. The Customs and Border Protection FAQ page states that Airsoft guns are not considered toys and do not require orange tips for importation.[15]

Personally, I'd buy it but keep it locked away, and only allow my son to use it under supervision. Goggles would be required at all times when using the gun.

I don't know how those plastic pellets compare to paint pellets for velocity and impact, but eyes don't grow back and little boys can be remarkably unwise when it comes to handling projectile toys. Also, if it looks like a real gun, there's a significant chance that even just carrying around an unloaded airsoft gun could cause problems for your son (ie, accidentally setting off a school lockdown if he strolls past a daycare, getting shot at by a panicked homeowner, getting stopped by cops with drawn weapons, etc...).

 

[scrapquitler]

I have no idea what an airsoft gun is (and I'm too lazy to google it right now)

Yes, I would be okay with a paintball party.

 

[Magpie]

My son is 13. I'd guess about half of the parties he's been invited to have been paintball parties. I don't know of anyone around here who would find it controversial.

I have a friend with a son 5 years older than mine. When he was little she swore up, down and sideways that he would never have a toy gun and never play with one. She finally gave up that idea when she realized that he was building his own toy guns with his Lego blocks.

My son has two airsoft guns -- they are kind of like BB guns only they shoot little plastic balls.

Warning to anyone driving through Gatlinburg with a teen son -- almost every store has airsoft guns. It was all we could do on our vacation to walk down the street without having to drag DS away from all the shiny toys!

I think it's cultural... my Canadian kids never wanted guns, but I sure did when I was a little girl living in the US. But there's a lot less exposure to them up here.

My kids played with swords, instead.

 

[ilovejack02]

Two boys here, fine with both.

My oldest and youngest received their first BB guns at five. DS21 was into paintball at the age of 12 also and received his first .22 about this time.

My DH hunts so boys have been raised with guns, BB , airsoft, paintball and the real deal.