Kids should not own BB guns.

• Position: Gunshot Wounds

Each year, at birthdays or around the holidays, there are children across the U.S. who unwrap a new, nonpowder gun. These include BB, pellet, and paintball varieties. While many parents may believe such weapons to be harmless, and even see them as a toy, statistics suggest otherwise. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill., more than 20,000 injuries result from these types of weapons each year, with four percent of them requiring hospitalization.

"These guns are not toys at all, and they can certainly do damage both to people and animals," explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue, Smithtown, N.Y., an organization dedicated to helping animals in need. "In our line of work, we have seen it often--kids who shoot at animals just for fun, and leave them distressed and injured. These guns create problems that parents are not even usually aware of."

Misseri provides tips for parents who may have a child with one of these guns, or who are considering getting one:

Ask, "Why?" If your child wants a BB or pellet gun, find out why and ask what it is that he [or she] wants to shoot at. If the child does not have a good answer, or it is one that involves harming people or animals, then hold off on making the purchase.

Wait until they are older. Young children may not be mature enough or have the impulse control to follow the rules that come with a BB gun. Wait until they are old...