WWII Firearms are HOT... ...with Kids?

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Category: WWII Firearms

Published: Monday, 09 September 2013 21:02

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Collecting WWII items is hotter than ever, but will the next generation be interested in this stuff?.  A generation ago interest was sparked by TV shows, a decade ago some really great movies fueled interest in WWII, but today the impact of Video Games, of all things, is poised to launch a whole new generation of collectors.  It may be a few years before they are old enough to start collecting, but the interest in undeniable.  I recently conducted a firearms safety briefing for a group of Boy Scouts, at which we had a small display of WWII Firearms.  When we took a break and looked at the display, nearly every Scout could identify and describe the function of each of the WWII firearms.  Most had never seen one in person, but they had all "fired" them in video games.  They had opinions of the strengths and weaknesses of various designs that were surprisingly consistent with the comments I hear from vets that used them for real.

For all of the supposed negative impacts of video games, I am seeing quite the opposite.  These games might be the most power learning tool we have ever seen.  Games have always been used to teach, but these games are engaging multiple senses in an ultra-realistic and interactive way like never before.  The attention to accurate details in the representation of firearms is clearly being retained by the players.  They also have a better understanding of the historical context in which the conflicts occurred, and I hope an appreciation for the men and women that did the fighting for real.  The kids also seem fairly good at separating fact from fiction within the games.  As a parent I know it will be important to understand the games my kids are playing, and the lessons they might be learning from them, but given their power as a learning tool I think we need to embrace them and use them.  These games can be a perfect way to start a discussion with kids about preventing real violence, world politics, values, history, or even starting a collecting hobby.