Technology as a Doubled-Edged Sword

            Before anything else, let us define technology and doubled-edged sword. According the Merriam-Webster:

tech·nol·o·gy

 noun \tek-ˈnä-lə-jē\

: the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems

: a machine, piece of equipment, method, etc., that is created by technology

double–edged sword

 noun

: a sword that has two sharp edges

: something that has both good and bad parts or results

Combining the two terms, technology as a double-edged sword basically exposes the ugly truth that technology in the wrong hands does not solve problems as mentioned in the first definition, but on the contrary creates problems.

            In this write-up, I shall focus on the technology of guns. We all know that guns in the right hands (Policemen) protect the society while guns in the wrong hands (Thieves) endanger the society. We have heard of news particularly in the United States of appeals to ban guns because of the poor gun control in certain states but the approval of such also has its own loopholes therefore making it very hard to create a solution for the use of such a technology.

(llco.org) 

            We have just welcomed the New Year and as usual there have been numerous reports about illegal fireworks and the like. One thing that caught my attention while I was watching the news on television (which eventually lead me to write this) is the report on the rampant use of toy guns by young children. This is a case of guns in the wrong hands. No, these children are not thieves or murderers but the possession of this weapon although just a toy has its own consequences in the society directly or indirectly.

            We have been used to seeing children play with toy guns in our households or even in our neighborhood. Doesn’t it bother you when they point their guns and even shoot at people and enjoy while they’re at it? This leads me to reflect upon this particular technology that we have taken for granted all these years. How does this affect children? Do we really have a need for such a toy? Should toy guns be banned?

Photo credit: Feng Li / Getty Images

I think that using toy guns plant seeds of violence in young children. First of all, a gun is a deadly weapon that shouldn’t be viewed as a toy. Children don’t really understand that yet at their young age. Therefore, if they play with toy guns, they see guns in general as something used for fun; hitting objects and all that. Throughout their childhood, their view on guns is only an object for fun. Its purpose is only as a toy; for entertainment.

            Honestly, I played with toy guns myself when I was younger. I played with it a lot actually, and shot all sorts of things from action figures, stuffed toys, home decorations and other objects. I would usually play with my younger brother and we would both have our own guns. We would have games together to see who was a better shooter. There would be instances when we accidentally hit people and as a result, we would be grounded and our toy guns confiscated. We would nag our parents to return our guns since we were really itching to shoot stuff. We would eventually get them back.

            Again technology in the right hands helps solve problems. Toy guns or real guns are not totally bad. It really depends on the way it is used, but nowadays, this technology is mostly about violence. Terrorism, wars, and such all choose guns as their weapon of choice.

            When these children grow up and face reality, I think they will have more tendencies to be violent.

They will be more violent for two reasons. First is because their view on guns and the like is something that’s fun and positive. They will have a wrong notion that it is accepted and okay to use such dangerous weapons. Second is that their exposure to guns would make them violent. Toys guns act as a bad influence to children and who knows what can happen when these children have the opportinity to get hold of real guns. 

            I think that the sale of toy guns should be stopped. All weapon toys for that matter should be banned from toy stores because they just promote violence among the youth. I hope that this issue will be addressed before it’s too late, before gun control becomes a major issue in the Philippines. Let’s not wait for our own version of campus shootings as we know it.

            Guns in general has its pros and cons just like any other technology. In this particular case though, such a technology must be regulated and controlled to avoid any forms of misuse and abuse that may cause harm to people. Always keep in mind that technology should be used to solve problems and not create them.