Marin Residents Invited to Trade in Toy Guns, Violent Video Games for Ice Cream

By Bay City News Service

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and the Center for Domestic Peace are holding a toy gun and violent video exchange during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

The goal is to promote a culture of peace by changing the way children play, officials said.

Those who bring a toy gun or violent video game to any of the exchange locations will receive a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a chance in a raffle to win an iPad, new bicycle, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom passes, movie tickets and Leapster learning game for children.

No purchase is necessary to enter the raffle, and you must be at least 18 years old to enter or on behalf of a child.

The toy gun and violent videos will be accepted between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Oct.4 at the Novato Police Department, 909 Machin Ave.; Ben & Jerry’s Bon Air Center on Oct.11; Town Center Corte Madera on Oct.18 and the Sausalito Police Department, 29 Caledonia St. on Oct. 25.

One way children learn violence is by playing with toy guns and interacting with violent video games, said Marla Hedlund, development and community relations manager with the Center for Domestic Peace.

“Children’s play with toy guns and violent video games reinforces fantasies of being in control and dominating,” said Donna Garske, executive director of the Center for Domestic Peace.

“We have to ask the critical question of how dominance and control expressed in adult relationships has been learned and reinforced over an individual’s life time, including through this seemingly harmless way,” Garske said.

(Image via Shutterstock)