When you read a headline like "Gun shop urges parents to buy their children weapons to 'keep them active'", some people might get worried. The headline of course, is fake news. The advertisement was put in Wellington letterboxes by Gun City, promoting a deal on an air rifle for supervised children to shoot in the backyard. It contained safety information on the back.
Bay of Plenty father Jayson Pirini disagrees air guns are appropriate for children. He lost his 12-year-old son Keegan MacPherson-Pirini when an air rifle accidently discharged.
"It's bad enough in New Zealand that the prevalence of guns seems to be increasing, but blatant promoting to children of using guns in their backyards crossed so many lines," Carey said.
Carey, from Wellington, said the accompanying advertising slogans of "great gift ideas to keep them active this summer" were clearly aimed at getting young children to pick up weapons.
"It does seem to be a dangerous slippery slope for New Zealand if you look at the United States."
So Stuff(ed) could find one parent who got a little triggered at seeing an ad for an air rifle, because he hates guns, think guns are getting more prevalent (they aren't, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they were), think an air rifle is a weapon (it isn't, unless you use it as one), and think invoking the United States as some kind of bogeyman bolsters his argument. Sounds like someone who reads too much propaganda.
Bay of Plenty father Jayson Pirini disagrees air guns are appropriate for children. He lost his 12-year-old son Keegan MacPherson-Pirini when an air rifle accidently [sic] discharged.
Pirini said the latest air guns were made to look more like ballistic weapons.
"They're very powerful and should be treated like a normal gun, it gives a false impression of safety."
He believes their should more restrictions on the guns to prevent tragedies.
What Stuff conveniently leaves out is that Pirini's son died after his father left a loaded air rifle on a pool table. His son died because of his own (criminally) negligent behaviour and he blames guns because he can't deal with the truth. His statement about air guns looking like ballistic weapons is a little confusing because air rifles are ballistic (the motion of projectiles in flight) and always have been.
Why is the MSM pushing their agenda against outdoor activities like shooting? Tomorrow they'll probably publish articles about how kids spend too much time inside behind the TV and computer. This holiday season get an air rifle, set up some targets in the backyard, get the kids outside, and teach them how to have some good, safe, and responsible fun!