The toy gun exchange. (Photo: WBAC)
Authorities in Hempstead, Long Island held a toy gun buyback this month for local school children.
Fifty little ones were invited to participate in the event during which they were instructed to exchange their colorful plastic toys for other colorful plastic toys that just happened to not be shaped like a gun.
Children who didn’t have toy guns to bring to the party were actually given water pistols and nerf blasters by organizers so they could play the turn ’em in game.
“Saying no to guns is important – even toy guns,” said Hempstead Village Mayor Don Ryan as reported by WABC.
“The purpose is to offer safe alternative to toy guns. We don’t want the kids playing with guns. Guns are dangerous,” added Hempstead Village Trustee LaMont Johnson.
Though it doesn’t need to be said toy guns are not guns, they’re toys! They’re meant to be played with! Unlike real guns, they are by their very nature harmless! A “safe alternative” to a toy gun is a toy gun because it’s just a toy!
Former NYPD officer Sean Acosta sponsored the event. Acosta works with the New York Toy Gun Exchange Program.
“I want to make sure when you grow up nothing happens to you,” Acosta told the children in attendance.
Right, because taking away toys from children makes them safer when they become adults. Makes no sense.