In a country where ICE and police officers have reportedly shot innocent people over a hunch, giving one’s child a realistic-looking toy gun is the last thing a concerned parent would do. And one Missouri mother, who goes by Foreverlearning816 on Reddit, says she couldn’t believe it when her dad gave her two sons water guns that look like real firearms. “From afar, this is a weapon,” Foreverlearning admits. “From 20 feet away it looks like a real gun.”
Redditors immediately went to warn the mom for her son’s safety, due to the color of her skin. “Your sons aren’t black, I hope. Cops will profile them,” wrote a user. Foreverlearning didn’t hesitate to admit, “they are 100% Black.” With this confirmation, countless people began bashing the grandfather for ever thinking this was a good idea.
Reddit Blasts the Dad for Thinking Realistic Toy Guns Were a Good Gift for His Grandkids
“Shame on her dad for being black and buying those guns. He should know better,” remarked a commenter. “As a black father, there’s no way in [expletive] that I would buy that for my kid,” said a second user. “That looks more like a real gun than some of my real guns,” expressed a third.
Several Redditors recalled the tragic fate of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old who was shot by police for holding a toy gun. Even though the toy Foreverlearning shows in her post has a small water container at the bottom of where a real magazine would go, everyone agrees that it looks way to real to be safe.
What’s even more bizarre is that her sons are pre-teens or teenagers either. Her father got these realistic water guns for a 6-year-old and a 14-month-old. As to why this grandfather would think this is okay, the mom has a hunch: “I blame the 30+ years of alcoholism and drug use. But even then, there’s no excuse.“
Many Redditors were torn between two solutions for Foreverlearning. She should either paint the guns or throw them out; there’s no way her children should go outside with them safely. She seems to have opted for the latter, writing in a comment: “My sons will 100% not see those guns again.” It was a relief that the boys’ mother has common sense.
