Someone is doing some great parenting!

"Peter! Peter! Don't forget your lunch, backpack or your BB gun!"

Jesus Christ.

McBrinn,

Your comment is pointless, and please do not use JC's name in a post. Totally inappropriate.

I wish that I could count the number of times that my kids have tried to sneak toys (Legos, Matchbox cars) to school in their pockets. My hope is that today's incident is another situation of a kid sneaking a toy out of the house.

For a few weeks, my husband and I had to pat-down our younger kid each morning to be sure that he was not taking toys to school.

I am sure that the parents of the child involved in the incident had no clue what their kid took to school. A lot of toys can fit into a backpack.

Unless you have spent mornings preparing school lunches, fixing breakfast, and making sure that the kids are dressed, please do not automatically blame the parents.

McBrinn -
We Pastafarians encourage you to invoke the name of our deity as frequently as you desire. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is not so easily offended. HE has never (intentionally) sent plagues of locusts or boils. And every time you eat linguine with clams, you are doing HIS good work. HE thinks Jesus could lighten up a bit.

Kim (or Ms. Moore, if you prefer)

I'll use Jesus Christ's name anytime I want. Hell, I might even add a "f**king" in the middle if the situation warrants. Don't you dare tell me what's "appropriate" when you're defending an institution that has of late done everything possible to obfuscate the investigation of the systemic rape of children by its own leaders. Puhlease.

And step off the soap box. I have three kids in ACPS. And yes, I make 3 lunches (and 5 breakfasts) each morning around 6. I'm fully aware of the circus that is every weekday morning. And yet, amazingly, not one has ever brought a firearm to class. Including my wife.

You're not doing yourself any favors by repeatedly referring to it as as "toy" either. It's a firearm. End of story.

Unbelievable that in this day and age you'd try to defend a kid who snuck a gun to school. I honestly hope you're doing a better job parenting than you appear to be.

to KM: I would not consider an Airsoft BB gun a "toy." Google it! Not at all comparable to Legos or Matchbox cars. I never bought any of my children a toy gun. And this child had 3 "toy" guns. If a parent chooses to buy one of these for their child, it is incumbent upon them to make sure they are only used under adult supervision, not left lying around where a child could take 3 "toy" guns to school.

The child was on the playground. They didn't say the child was ever in the school. Playgrounds are open, especially in the summer, and many children who do not attend the schools may wonder onto them. Seeing how it is still summer break for many students in Alexandria, it is conceivable that the child was playing with their toy guns (not unusual for children) and wanted to share, and did so in an inappropriate place. Everyone was fine in the end and the child (and parents) hopefully learned a lesson here. This isn't a shocking story and definitely not one worth insulting the religion of others, the parenting skills of people one has never met, or misinforming the public about what is considered a firearm.

I never referred to the beebee gun as a toy. What I said was that some children take their toys to school without parents' knowledge. A kid can regard anything as a toy. That is their knowledge-base. I completely agree that no guns of any form should go to school.

I have never perceived myself as being on a soap-box. I am simply a DelRay/Alexandria resident who enjoys civil debate and is dedicated to my community.

I'm not sure why you felt the need to name me. I am not running for office or other public seat. Were you attempting to unveil some great secret? Would you also like my blood type? It's O-negative.

"My hope is that today's incident is another situation of a kid sneaking a toy out of the house."

Sure looks like you called it a "toy" to me.

Mr. Lewis, have you searched Google images for what an airsoft gun actually is? Did you notice that their appearance is almost indistinguishable from "real" handguns? Did you know that despite their misleading name, the projectiles they fire (yes, fire) are hard plastic and with a similar muzzle velocity to that of a bb gun? If you have it's pretty incredible to claim that Martin was being disingenuous by referring to them as firearms. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....

It is a firearm.

Oh, I'll also add that Mr. Lewis might want to Google "Police shoot man with airsoft gun" and see how many results get returned (1.4 million to be precise). If trained Law Enforcement professionals are unable to distinguish" real" from "toy", I don't think you're in any position to lecture anyone about their authenticity. Sorry to interject in all this but my sister is an ER doctor outside Boston and sees the horrific injuries these guns cause. Google "ocular airsoft" when you have time. It will change your perception.

Google stick to the eye or unarmed man shot by police. You get plenty of results, none of which have to do with this story, just as ocular airsoft injuries have nothing to do with this story. No one was injured here and the world goes on. Definitely not worth attacking the values of others over or making broad, unfounded jumps over. The airsoft toy gun is not a firearm. Own, examine, or discharge a firearm and you would have some idea as to what you are talking about. Better yet go to purchase one and see what "firearm" regulations you must go through. Slingshots fire projectiles as do rubber band guns, are these firearms too?

I am concerned about the conflicting information. The letter sent home clearly stated 1:00 p.m. (during school session) and involved a student and that no students were injured. Then the police statement above says a student was hit and that perhaps it was children that attend the after school care (which I though started later) and not actual students.

Better yet go to purchase one and see what "firearm" regulations you must go through.

What's that supposed to mean? I bought a Mossberg 500 last October and aside from the instant background check (which my wife didn't even notice occurring) the sale was no different than the purchase of an airsoft gun.

Thank you for proving the point. Airsoft guns are not firearms. They do not require background checks, do not fire projectiles through explosive propulsion, and are not considered firearms under state and federal law so let's stop referring to what this child brought onto the playground as a firearm. And the 500 is nice, did you go with the ZMB? Winchester 1200 and 1300 are pretty solid and can be purchased at a great deal.

I'd rather not continue to argue but I haven't proven your point at all. They do provide propulsion through an explosive charge. My clearance requires a background check. That doesn't make it a firearm license. Semantics. I have clear memories of being about 7 and using a 2 foot steel tube at my grandfather's farm to launch marble-sized rocks via stolen blackpowder from his workroom. I can guarantee from professional experience that the fed and the state would have gladly called my crude contraption a firearm.

I bought the slugster with a 24" barrel. I wanted something for both field and 'get the f##k out of my house'. My father has a Winchester 10 gauge that should be mine eventually.

Having bought a 500 in October you would know that we do not have to have a "firearm license." For someone itching to get a 10 gauge you seem a bit off with firearm ownership and what is and what is not a firearm. Airsofts propel with air, hence the name. No explosion of powder (as is the case with a firearm), no NCIS check, and no state or federal law recognizing airsofts as firearms. Paintball guns operate the same way and I have yet to hear one refered to as a firearm. Not here to defend the airsoft brand, just ensure that the facts here are not sensationalized or people who have never been to the Dulles convention center have an idea as to what really is and is not a firearm. Enjoy the 500 and be safe.