Beware! These ‘guns’ could harm your kids

Gone are the days when kids used to fire at each other with their simple and harmless Diwali toy guns. Now, children are using guns which can actually cause injury. This Diwali, markets are flooded with Chinese as well as Indian made toy guns, which not only look like real guns, but also fire bullets to a fair distance.

These guns are available in all shapes and sizes, be it revolver, single shot and double barrel. They come with specially designed dot caps and bullets, exclusively manufactured for the Diwali celebrations. However, firing these bullets pose considerable danger, not only to the human 'target', but also to property. These guns are meant to be fired in the air; but if shot at a human being or animal from close range, they can cause burns on the skin or damage the eye. The fire-emitting bullets are like mini rockets, which go upto 20-30 metres distance, and can cause fire if they hit a cloth, paper or any inflammable object. Ideally, these guns must be fired in the air under the supervision of parents, but it may not be possible for the latter to watch their kids all the time. 

According to a store owner in Jodhpur, these guns vary in price and shape. "They range from Rs 40 to Rs 100, depending on the size and capacity. A small gun needs small bullets, while a double barrel gun uses larger bullets, which look similar to 12 bore rifle bullets," said the shop owner seeking anonymity. The bullets actually looks like real ones, which immediately capture the fantasy of kids and thus pose another kind of danger apart from safety.

"Such real looking guns infuse a sense of owning a weapon, and kids can use it to harm others. It is definitely not recommended for children, as they increase their familiarity with such guns at an early age and can leave a lasting impression on their psyche," opined Dr. Prashant Bhimani, consulting psychologist.