Disney stopped selling toy guns

[NYDisneyKid]

I believe the poster was referring to Universal and Sea World setting up similar security measures the same day.

Im sure Busch Gardens and Lego-Land will follow suit too

 

[3DisneyFanz]

What's being completely missed is that 3 metal detectors and a moratorium on plastic guns isn't going to stop the kinds of domestic terror attacks people are worried about. Whether it's in front of the castle or on the ferry to the MK the end result is going to be the same thing. The people interested in making a statement aren't going to be using something as small as a bubble gun.

 

[dekraut]

I have opinions on guns (toys or otherwise) which I feel very strongly about, but voicing them here likely won't cause anyone to change their minds.

The real problem I have with the change in policy is that it is an unfortunate response to the terror threats that exist in the world today, and it is a sign that the terrorists are winning, and we are losing. After 9/11 the nation spent a lot of time saying things like "If you change the way you live your life and walk around making decisions based on fear, then the terrorists win." That is truly the saddest part for me.... the terrorists (and other criminals) win again, this time at the "Happiest Place On Earth." So now, even at Disney World my children are taught to be fearful.

And yes, I would rather take my chances with my safety in a Disney Park (which is better than my odds of driving to Disney on I-4) then have rules against buying a flintlock outside of POTC, or a Star Wars blaster in Hollywood Studios. My one hope (actually) is that this is a response to a specific credible threat and not the overreaction that I feel it is. I am hoping there is info that I am not privy to, that makes this a specific reaction to a specific situation, and not a general reaction.

And NO, I am not hoping for a threat to Disney, I am just saying that this is more palatable to me if it is in response to something specific that most of us are not aware of.

Overall, it is a annoyance to me, but I won't cancel a trip or let it influence my mood once I get into the parks.

 

[Jennasis]

The terrorists don't "win" when we ban guns (toy or otherwise) or are overly cautious. They win when they successfully kill people.

 

[Love Tink]

The terrorists don't "win" when we ban guns (toy or otherwise) or are overly cautious. They win when they successfully kill people.

While I understand what you are saying, you aren't really right. The point of terrorism - whether it be Islamic militants, abortion activists, the Irish Republican Army, or anyone else - is to scare people. It is to scare people badly enough and long enough that people do what want them to do - or stop doing the things you don't want them to do. Killing people is just a way to scare people - it isn't the end goal.

That said, the end goal of Islamic terrorists isn't to change how Americans view toy guns. So I don't really think this is some big "win" for them.

 

[Jennasis]

While I understand what you are saying, you aren't really right. The point of terrorism - whether it be Islamic militants, abortion activists, the Irish Republican Army, or anyone else - is to scare people. It is to scare people badly enough and long enough that people stop doing the things you don't want them to do. Killing people is just a way to scare people - it isn't the end goal.

That said, the end goal of Islamic terrorists isn't to change how Americans view toy guns. So I don't really think this is some big "win" for them.

That's YOUR definition. Not mine and certainly not what the terrorists proclaim They have said as much in various places. They want to kill as many of (whomever they consider the enemy) as possible. They've never said "We want to scare them so they will stop doing xyz". They want us dead, and are willing to kill themselves to make that happen. It is indeed their end goal.

My only point being, I cannot stand when people trot out the old "When we ____, the terrorists win." No. They don't.

 

[Love Tink]

What's being completely missed is that 3 metal detectors and a moratorium on plastic guns isn't going to stop the kinds of domestic terror attacks people are worried about. Whether it's in front of the castle or on the ferry to the MK the end result is going to be the same thing. The people interested in making a statement aren't going to be using something as small as a bubble gun.

I don't think that is being missed at all. I think it is inherent in every post here where someone says this new policy is "stupid" or a waste of time.

Perhaps the Disney company just wants to feel that they are doing something, and this is what they landed on. Do you live in an area where it snows? Every time it snows here, there is a run on the supermarkets and everybody stocks up on milk, bread, and toilet paper (and wine). Generally it is pretty ridiculous - we don't get too much snow here, and most of the time you can get to the store within a day or two. But people run to the store anyway - because they want to feel proactive, they want to feel that they are doing something to prepare for what might be coming.

Maybe this is just what Disney is doing so they can feel they are doing something.

 

[Love Tink]

That's YOUR definition. Not mine and certainly not what the terrorists proclaim They have said as much in various places. They want to kill as many of (whomever they consider the enemy) as possible. They've never said "We want to scare them so they will stop doing xyz". They want us dead, and are willing to kill themselves to make that happen. It is indeed their end goal.

My only point being, I cannot stand when people trot out the old "When we ____, the terrorists win." No. They don't.

Well, it isn't my definition. It's a word and thus it has a definition. (The use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.)

But feel free to decide a word means something different than it actually does. People do it all the time.

 

[btk2333]

All three parks? There are more than 3 parks no??

I would argue that if you combine DHS and DAK you MIGHT get one whole park so yes three parks seems fair

 

[btk2333]

That's YOUR definition. Not mine and certainly not what the terrorists proclaim They have said as much in various places. They want to kill as many of (whomever they consider the enemy) as possible. They've never said "We want to scare them so they will stop doing xyz". They want us dead, and are willing to kill themselves to make that happen. It is indeed their end goal.

My only point being, I cannot stand when people trot out the old "When we ____, the terrorists win." No. They don't.

This is not really true- almost all terrorist organizations have some sort of political goal. They want to kill civilians to "terrorize them" enough to do something, whether that be stop bombing Syria, change the political alignment of Ireland, recognize the independence of a country or region. Some of the individual terorrists may certainly just be in it to kill as many people as possible- but the 'terrorist organization' has a goal of some kind

 

[Jennasis]

I can picture it now. Couple of terrorists sitting in a cave or other hidey-hole somewhere high fiving each other because Disney World banned toy guns for sale. "We did it, bro! Mission accomplished!"

(For the purpose of this discussion, I am referring to ISIS when I'm speaking of terrorists).

 

[ChloesDaddy]

The terrorists don't "win" when we ban guns (toy or otherwise) or are overly cautious. They win when they successfully kill people.

Well, I think banning real ones would make the goal as stated by you much easier to accomplish. I do agree that the phrase is used to the point that people start to tune it out. But giving up freedoms of any kind in response to terrorism is a sign that their actions are effective and is seen by them as a sign of weakness.

 

[connorlevismom]

With the ability to make working guns on a 3D printer now, it is also possible to make a gun in any gaudy color you want, too. That means that what looks like a toy gun could very possibly be a working real gun. Does anyone really want to take the chance?

I have nothing to add to this - but I wanted to say that I love your picture of your pup. We lost our Chester this August and he looked JUST like your pup. Thank you for warming my heart today!

 

[JimmyV]

People without a security background always look at things the wrong way. .... Think outside the box folks, that's what security people do.

Thank you for putting this into perspective. It has long been assumed here that the "bag check" at the front of the parks is not the "be all and end all" of park security. There are security people walking around the parks, and in all likelihood, security cameras all over the parks with people in a remote room somewhere monitoring them like Las Vegas casinos do. The ban on toy guns just made the jobs of those people a whole lot easier. Imagine being on the security team and your job was to look at a number of video screens all day long looking for unusual activity. You see a man holding what appears to be some sort of weapon, but the man is way off in the distance so you can't get a good look. So you zoom in with the camera to get a closer look, (or walk closer to the man if you are part of the "street detail".) Once you zoom in or get closer, you realize that the gun in question was only a toy. Perhaps this would seem self-evident if you had had a close-up view of the gun in the first place. But it might not be so clear from far away. Recognizing that this is a toy gun, you move on to something else. Now imagine doing this 500 times a day! Now when the folks in the security detail see something that they think might possibly be a gun they will know right away what it isn't. It isn't a toy that was sold in the park, and they can act accordingly. Will guests be any safer? I don't know. But will the jobs of the security force be made easier and more certain? It has to. Seems reasonable to me to try to eliminate the single biggest point of confusion faced by the security detail.

 

[amylevan]

People without a security background always look at things the wrong way. I do have a background in security at a maximum security facility I worked at a few years ago. Here's what a bubble gun looks like to me. It is a reservoir for liquid or other substance. That substance in the reservoir can be the bubble mixture but it also can be anything else, including explosive material. In other words, any substance that can be put into there. It just a reservoir looking like a gun. The substance in there could makes it a bomb actually. Security people care less about the gun function as the reservoir potential.

Now, this is ridiculous. Anything can hold a liquid or other substance that could be used as an explosive material. Hence the whole restricting liquids to 3 oz on flights. So, to even imply that they have banned bubble guns because they might hold liquid other than bubble mixture is laughable. Would be terrorists can just put their explosive liquid in their lunch thermos and be on their way.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I don't think that is being missed at all. I think it is inherent in every post here where someone says this new policy is "stupid" or a waste of time.

Perhaps the Disney company just wants to feel that they are doing something, and this is what they landed on. Do you live in an area where it snows? Every time it snows here, there is a run on the supermarkets and everybody stocks up on milk, bread, and toilet paper (and wine). Generally it is pretty ridiculous - we don't get too much snow here, and most of the time you can get to the store within a day or two. But people run to the store anyway - because they want to feel proactive, they want to feel that they are doing something to prepare for what might be coming.

Maybe this is just what Disney is doing so they can feel they are doing something.

Unfortunately I know exactly what you mean with the snow analogy. In the end though rather than feeling like people are being proactive I see it as panic for the sake of panic.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Now, this is ridiculous. Anything can hold a liquid or other substance that could be used as an explosive material. Hence the whole restricting liquids to 3 oz on flights. So, to even imply that they have banned bubble guns because they might hold liquid other than bubble mixture is laughable. Would be terrorists can just put their explosive liquid in their lunch thermos and be on their way.

Yeah but no thermos would be as fun. Can you imaging how much delight the terrorist would have skipping around with their flashing LED lights and 6oz of liquid?

 

[dekraut]

My only point being, I cannot stand when people trot out the old "When we ____, the terrorists win." No. They don't.

I regret that you "cannot stand" it when people express an opinion that differs from yours, but I do believe that whenever we alter our behavior in any fashion in response to something they are doing, their act of affecting our lives is a win for terrorism. They don't simply have one goal. Scaring us is one in a long list which includes killing us, as you very correctly stated.

I can picture it now. Couple of terrorists sitting in a cave or other hidey-hole somewhere high fiving each other because Disney World banned toy guns for sale. "We did it, bro! Mission accomplished!"

Nowhere did I suggest that banning toy guns was their ultimate mission goal, and it seems that you are mocking my position by exaggerating my position. Their goals include disrupting our ability to live a normal life. I think they are "sitting in the cave" laughing at how scared the Infidels are and how their mission is succeeding. I certainly don't believe they would see this as a loss for their side.

 

[amylevan]

Yeah but no thermos would be as fun. Can you imaging how much delight the terrorist would have skipping around with their flashing LED lights and 6oz of liquid?

 

[Jennasis]

I regret that you "cannot stand" it when people express an opinion that differs from yours, but I do believe that whenever we alter our behavior in any fashion in response to something they are doing, their act of affecting our lives is a win for terrorism. They don't simply have one goal. Scaring us is one in a long list which includes killing us, as you very correctly stated.



Nowhere did I suggest that banning toy guns was their ultimate mission goal, and it seems that you are mocking my position by exaggerating my position. Their goals include disrupting our ability to live a normal life. I think they are "sitting in the cave" laughing at how scared the Infidels are and how their mission is succeeding. I certainly don't believe they would see this as a loss for their side.

1. There are a great many differing opinions I "cannot stand". I am not afraid to say so.

2. I'm not mocking you. I don't believe Disney banning the sales of guns or adding metal detectors constitutes a disruption to our ability to live a normal life. You are right... they may well be laughing in their caves at us for a variety of reasons (like perhaps the hub-bub over a theme parks addition of a metal detector and loss of toy gun sales)...none of which will stop me from living my life. And I hope nobody stops living their lives either.

I don't feel like any of these things Disney is doing is making us give up rights or freedoms. I am still free to choose to visit/endorse/give money to any place I want. If Disney's new rules were something I felt infringed on me, I am free to not patronize them. And toy guns are still available in plenty of other places. I bought one for my nephew the other day.