Toys, Tools & Guns (edited)

I'm sorry, but that's just crazy. I must have one.

Turns out the nail gun isn't real. But, really, can't you see it being manufactured and sold as seen in the pic?

http://www.snopes.com/photos/technology/nailgun.asp

To the point of the op, though: a couple of years ago my wife bought me an 18" Poulan chain saw for Fathers Day. She bought the previous years model on clearance, though, because she thought I wouldn't like the new one. I couldn't understand why not until I saw it in the store...it literally looked like TOY chain saw, with bright purple graphics and colorful trim. Who was this designed for? Exact same specs as the traditional safety yellow/black model, just redesigned to look like a Fischer Price you. Good thing a kid wouldn't be able to start it.

The blurring of the lines like that. It's very irresponsible, imho.

Toy guns have to have a bright orange muzzle nowadays.

real guns made to look like toys? There are "Hello Kitty" weapons, for example.

Do you feel that's an unwise/irresponsible, albeit profitable, marketing approach by gun manufacturers?

I do think operational and non-operational firearms/replicas should be instantly distinguishable from one another for safety reasons; maybe Kalashnakitty will have to go. Though I think it's specifically the orange muzzle that replicas have to have.

Good one.

Thanks for your thoughts. Instantly distinguishable is key, imho.

Marketing mass quantities of firearms that look like kids' toys fosters a non-serious, juvenile frame of mind in gun owners. Evidence of this sick trend is everywhere: flip through a current gun periodical and check out the ads and feature articles if you don't believe me. Or check out the discussions taking place in online sites devoted exclusively to AR-15 or AK-47 assault rifles. When you reduce guns to mere adjuncts of violent video games, you've got trouble.

It's a very definite trend, and it's extraordinarily disturbing.

I started noticing it in the last year primarily with women -- of all ages -- posing with their guns, naming them, sharing links to catalog companies specializing in gun accessories for women (pink, camo, etc.).

Not good at all. They're not toys, and it's not responsible to treat them as such, imho.