Those water guns that [Forrest Melton] mistook for the real things represent a new generation of fast-selling toys: realistic simulated weapons. "They are the among the hottest toy categories on the Christmas market, along with armies of plastic action figures that come complete with military histories and job descriptions," said Rick Anguilla, editor of Toy and Hobby World, a national magazine that publishes toy trade news.

"If in the family life there are positive influences, the war toys are just games," [Matthew G. Martinez] said, "But if in the family life there are distrust and fighting and men deserting the family and the children feeling they are at fault, those influences are going to have some kind of negative impact and then the toys could be a negative factor. But where there is good influence and love and caring in the home, I don't think war toys are anything more than just that: toys."

She maintained that ideas for violent use of war toys develop in children's minds because of television, toy packaging, peer influence, and parents who, in children's eyes, endorse war toys simply by presenting them as gifts.