'I think it's really inappropriate' Mum sparks debate after her son receives toy guns as presents

A mum has expressed her annoyance over her son being gifted three toy guns for his birthday – deeming them ‘inappropriate’ presents.

Taking to parenting forum Mumsnet, the mum explained that she is now torn over taking the fake weapons away from the seven-year-old as he appeared to enjoy playing with them.

Asking whether she was being unreasonable for feeling uncomfortable over the gifts, she said: ‘Now I know it's up to people what they give and that as the recipient's parent I don't get a say, and I should be grateful that these DC came to his party and brought him a gift (and I am), but I would never give a gun as a gift.

'I think it's really inappropriate and I'm very uncomfortable with having even toy guns in my house.

'Seeing my 7-year-old running around with a gun (albeit a plastic one), and shooting at us and laughing is horrible. And of course he loves them and he was given them and if I took them away then I'd be the bad guy.'

Many parents agreed that the mum was perfectly in her right to be upset about the presents, with one commenting: ‘You Are Not Being Unreasonable. My four year old is going through a WWII phase that involves building guns out of lego and pretending to shoot the Germans (I. E. Us). I have to keep telling him off.'

Another said: ‘I don’t allow guns and the kids know that if they are given any I would swap them out for a gift of equal value. I have no problem being ‘the bad guy’.

A third added: ‘I wouldn’t give a gun as a gift so I get where you are coming from. My son has been given one which ‘went missing’ after a couple of weeks.’

However, there were a few parents who thought the mum was overreacting. One said: ‘It is just for make believe play though, he's not going to turn into a violent thug because he pretended to be a cowboy when he was 7.

‘Just get rid of it when the novelty has worn off.'

Another added: ‘Guns are better than swords for pretend play at that age. Swords end up with injuries as fighting involves hitting. Have you banned swords too?’

And a third mocked: ‘Those that don't allow guns, I assume you've removed all twigs from your surroundings and amputated your child's index and middle fingers?’