Long Island philanthropist Jean Shafiroff is tackling a major problem on Long Island: toy gun violence.
Shafiroff partnered with the Hempstead Board of Education to launch the Long Island Toy Gun Exchange this week that already got almost 200 plastic squirt guns, Nerf blasters, cap guns and other harmless toys off the streets, the New York Daily News reports.
“Children are our future,” Shafiroff said. “If we can teach them violent toys and violent guns aren’t for everyone, then we will make a huge difference in our future.”
Hempstead officials, local law enforcement, the mayor, school board members, Shafiroff and others proudly debuted the program with a press conference at Kennedy Memorial Park in Hempstead Dec. 23, an effort they said is in response to “recent shooting tragedies,” LongIsland.com reports.
A 12-year-old Hempstead girl was killed in her home by a stray bullet in October.
“Gun Violence is something that happens too much in our city, our village, our state and around the world,” Hempstead Board of Education President Lamont Johnson told the Daily News.
“We want kids to know guns are not toys,” he said. “We want to stop the gun culture.”
Local officials are encouraging kids to exchange their weaponry for “peaceful” gifts purchased by Shafiroff, such as dolls, puzzles, and foam footballs.
Karina Hernandez didn’t have much use for her squirt gun during the winter, so the 12-year-old traded it for a puzzle. Besides, she said, it’s dangerous.
“People can mistake it for a real gun and kids get hurt,” Hernandez said.
The Attorney General’s Office in August claimed there have been 63 shootings in New York since 1994 that involved someone holding an immigration weapon, with eight resulting in fatalities. State law requires fake guns to have a brightly colored tip and sides, while New York City law requires toy guns to be entirely brightly colored, LongIsland.com reports.
This summer, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman went after numerous retailers in the state for allegedly selling thousands of imitation weapons that don’t comply with the laws. In August, the state imposed heavy fines in settlements with several online and in-state retailers.
“The agreement with Walmart requires the company to pay $225,000 in fines to New York State. Kmart, Amazon.com, Sears and ACTA will pay more than $84,000 in combined fines and costs. The Amazon settlement includes a civil penalty of $7,250 – $50 per online sale – which is paid to New York State, plus $2,000 in costs to the Attorney General’s Office. Kmart has agreed to pay a $64,550 penalty – $50 per online sale and $500 for each in-store sale. It also will pay $2,000 in costs,” according to the news site.
Jada Gillenwater, who brought several kids into the Toy Gun Exchange this week, said she views water pistols and foam dart shooters as gateway weapons to heavy artillery.
“I personally don’t allow my children to play with guns,” she told the Daily News. “I think when we promote violence, even in a harmless setting, it still promotes violence.”
Many, many commenters on Facebook clearly disagreed with the guns-equal-violence mentality.
“Screw that. Stop trying to deball American boys,” Quinn O’bannion posted to 65 “Likes.” “I bought my sons toy guns, then pellet guns to teach gun safety.”
“I had every toy gun possible as a kid … haven’t shot a church or movie theater up,” Rafael Lullanda wrote.
“Or you could just teach them that toy guns are toys and real guns are real,” Ralph Schubert posted. “What BS. Both of my kids know gun safety and I’ve taught them to shoot. My son knows his rifle’s nomenclature and can do a full field strip and reassemble. How about stop teaching kids to be pussy victims?”
Hempstead officials said they plan to continue with the Toy Gun Exchange until they’ve collected at least 500 pretend weapons.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.