Hello Max,
I respect your view of firearms, but I don't share it.
Weapons are not evil or bad per se. Even a kitchen knife can be a weapon, it just depends on what you do with it: You can use it to cut a loaf of bread or slit anyone's throat. But that does not make the knife evil.
In the countries I know, the possession of firearms is subject to strict conditions. Those who want to buy and own them must first prove their need, and then go through a meticulous background check where all the stains on their vest come out on the table: Traffic violations? Alcohol-related offenses? Criminal record? Conspicuous in the municipality? Aggressive behavior? Health problems? Mental health problems?
And "Need" is precisely defined here: Hunters, sport shooters or professional reasons (such as transporting money).
This check is repeated cyclically, and if something is not in order, you have to hand in your firearms and your permit to possess them is revoked.
Legal possession of firearms is therefore nothing less than a testimonial of reliability for the owner (!).
Of course, a firearm is not a "toy" in the literal sense. But in the context of this thread, which is adult-generated, and which explicitly uses the word "toy" in the opening post in the way that, for example, a car, boat, or bushwhacker is also referred to as a "man's toy" (and a "woman's toy" for all I care), it should be clear to everyone what is meant. And if you call this a family forum (what has a 70-80'000 $/€/£ item to do with kids btw.?), I think it's the parents who have to guide their kids through the shallows of the Internet, not us. On the contrary, such a topic offers a good opportunity to reflect on the role of firearms and the responsibility that goes with it. Making things invisible for kids is the dumbest thing one can do when they still exist.
Everyone is free to have his/her own opinion and to express it. But the verdict that there went something wrong, just because it runs counter to one's personal view, I find bold. Tolerance is something that can be demanded not only from meat eaters, car drivers and sport shooters, but just as well from vegans, pedestrians and pacifists (and that's exactly how I mean it, it's not meant to be a mockery).
If it is really so bad to endure other views and claims, then the option remains to disregard the posts or thread in question.
I think we should all be able to put up with other people's points of view and still continue to have fun together ;-)
