Why is it only now that people have problem with gun shaped peripherals? I remember getting my original Nintendo, and not once did my parents ever say anything negatively about the zapper that you used for Duck Hunt. And heck, if a kid wanted, they can "practice" with a gun by grabbing a tree branch or just pointing their fingers like a gun and going "phew!"

From the article:

Earlier this week, New Jersey’s The Star-Ledger polled the readers of its Parental Guidance blog on what they thought of Nintendo’s forthcoming Wii Zapper, a plastic shell that combines the Wiimote and Nunchuk into a rifle-looking device for use in first-person shooter games.

The majority of the responses, the paper reports, were highly negative:

Great, this is what we need. Children with guns learning how to aim and shoot. Then we can sit back and wonder what is happening to our country with kids killing kids……what’s next? Could we make it squirt blood, too?

Nintendo ought to be fined for introducing to 4-9 years old kids a “toy” that promotes guns. The next thing you know they will include an application to the NRA in the game. Who ever thought up this stupid game ought to be fired. I would NEVER purchase a Nintento product for my grandkids from here on…

I think it’s irresponsible for Wii to come out with a controller that looks like a gun so kids can play games simulating shooting. What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?

Read the full article over at gamepolitics.com