The Patriot Post® · BSA Water Gun Ban — Because 'Pointing a Firearm' Isn't Kind

The Boy Scouts of America have been dealing with political correctness for years, though in the past it has been with weighty subjects such as homosexual leaders and scouts. This time, it’s not nearly so serious, but it’s absurd all the same. Boy Scout blogger Bryan Wendell writes, “As summer — and pool weather! — lingers on the horizon, it’s a good time to remind you that BSA policies prohibit pointing simulated firearms at people. Yes, that includes water guns.” And he’s actually serious. According to the 2015 Boy Scouts of America National Shooting Sports Manual, “Water guns and rubber band guns must only be used to shoot at targets, and eye protection must be worn.” Fine, safety first and all. Wouldn’t want a Scout hit in the eye with a rubber band. But Wendell goes on to explain, “Why the rule? A Scouter once told me this explanation I liked quite a bit: A Scout is kind. What part of pointing a firearm [simulated or otherwise] at someone is kind?” So now we’re going to raise a generation of Scouts to be scared of water guns. What red-blooded American boy hasn’t enjoyed the heck out of a water gun fight? Well, now the Boy Scout variety, that’s who.