Elementary School Launches Toy Gun “Buy Back” Program

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

The latest installment of “Guys, I think we’re taking this shit a little too far” comes to us from Strobridge Elementary School in the San Francisco Bay area. An idea conjured and implemented by Principal Charles Hill rewarded students for exchanging, or “selling back,” their toy guns in exchange for books and raffle tickets, good for a chance to win a bicycle.

From Mercury News:

An elementary school [held] a toy gun exchange Saturday, offering students a book and a chance to win a bicycle if they turn in their play weapons.

Strobridge Elementary Principal Charles Hill maintains that children who play with toy guns may not take real guns seriously.

“Playing with toys guns, saying ‘I’m going to shoot you,’ desensitizes them, so as they get older, it’s easier for them to use a real gun,” Hill said.

The program has ruffled a few feathers. A local gun activist, Yih-Chau Chang, spokesman for Responsible Citizens of California, weighed in on the matter, stating, “While the intentions are obviously good on the part of the school administration, this doesn’t really educate children about guns or gun safety.” “Guns are used in crimes, but they are more often used in defensive ways which prevent violent crime from occurring in the first place.”

That’s the rub, a simple pros versus cons debate. Will this help sensitize children to dangers of guns? Who knows? They’re just kids — they’re only concerned with booger picking, cooties, and playing with friends at that age.

Here’s what I want to know: What about the little finger pistolers? What do they get for turning in their weapons? Their toy guns are attached to their grubby little hands, so they obviously can’t turn those over. You think they just ask them to promise to keep them holstered? You can’t leave those guys out.

They’ll make their promises for a chance to win that new bike, but right when the event ends, you know those index fingers and thumbs are coming right back out.

[via Mercury News]

Image via Bay News 9