TUCSON, Ariz. -- While folks are out thinking about buying gifts, members of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, or WILPF, are out promoting peaceful toys.
They call themselves the Raging Grannies.
They are a part of the organization’s Tucson chapter.
Margo Newhouse is a proud member.
“The winter holidays are a time when people are thinking about love and peace and caring. That’s not a time for people to be buying violent video games and toy guns,” Newhouse told KGUN9.
Peace and love-- two things they say are worth standing up for.
So, with their signs in hand, they spread messages like no war toys, choose peaceful love and games, and guns are not toys and toys should not look like guns.
Newhouse says she has witnessed first hand what guns can do to a family.
“I remember clearly when I was 10 years old, my mother’s only sibling was killed in front of a house with a gun,” said Newhouse.
This cause hits home for her. Now, she does her part in hopes her message helps prevent kids from experiencing this.
“It’s even more important that people don’t make guns such a common thing that children don’t grow up with toy guns and then want real guns,” she added.
Instead of violent video games and toy guns she encourages parents to get games that promote learning.
“There [are] plenty of wonderful, wonderful toys that people can where children can cooperate and play together building things. Creating something is a good learning experience,” Newhouse told KGUN9.
Her message to parents: when buying a toy, keep in mind if it is the best thing you can do for your child’s future.
Research from the American Psychological Association shows a link between violent video game use and an increase in aggressive behavior.
It also shows a link between violent video games and a decrease in positive social behavior, empathy, and moral engagement.
