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Angelina Jolie probably didn't know (or doesn't care) that her little toy gun shopping spree with sons Pax and Maddox is the kind of thing that mommy wars are made of. But I'm going to be straight with you. I couldn't give a flying fig if Angie -- or any other parent -- buys her kids toy guns.
But I do think buying your kid a toy gun comes with the responsibility to teach them how to use it. And Angie just failed that one big time.
When paparazzi from X17Online pointed their lenses at the little boys, Pax opted to point his big camo rifle right back at them. And thanks to the wonders of photography, we know that Angie just stood there and laughed!
Oooooph. BIG mistake right there, Mom. I can understand the urge to get back at the paparazzi, especially when you're a mom, and your kids are being out and out stalked at every turn. But when you laugh at your kids doing something wrong in public, it becomes a lot harder to correct them in private. When an 8-year-old like Pax hears mom's tinkling laughter, the kid brain takes it as a sign that they're doing something right.
And pointing a gun -- any gun -- at anyone is never OK. It's not about being a fraidy cat who can't deal with kids being violent occasionally. I'm of the mind that hiding toy guns from kids will just make them use their fingers. But it is basic gun safety. If a child -- God forbid -- is to accidentally pick up a real gun at some point and think it's a toy, you want to minimize the risk. And in the Jolie-Pitt household, where Angie has said before she keeps real guns like those she used on the set of Lara Croft, there is that off chance that the kids could somehow find mom's arsenal.
The National Rifle Association advises parents like Angelina and Brad should actually be using toy guns to "demonstrate safe gun handling." Pointing a gun at the people you're mad at may be natural kid behavior, but it's not safe gun handling. And if you're going to buy your kids toy guns, you can't afford to laugh about it.
What did you do the first time your child tried to "shoot" someone with their toy gun?
Image via oparazzi photos/Flickr
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
