Disney Channel Edits Out Gun From 1938 Mickey Mouse Cartoon

Here is my article that was published over at AmmoLand.com the other day. It seems like it really touched a nerve with a bunch of people out there in Internet Land who obviously thought it was as absurd as I did... *Cough* FoxNation *Cough*........ Enjoy:



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 Disney Channel Edits Out Gun From 1938 Mickey Mouse Cartoon

Almost every morning the Disney Channel runs shortened versions of their "golden oldies" between some of their modern day cartoons as a way to fill time until the next scheduled show begins. One morning recently my kids were watching the Disney Channel when they featured an old Mickey Mouse classic called 'Mickey's Parrot' which was originally released back on September 09, 1938. In this episode, a parrot belonging to an escaped killer wanders into Mickey's basement. Mickey hears it talking and thinks that the parrot is the killer who is on the loose who he just heard about on the radio. Mickey then goes and grabs his double barreled shotgun off of the wall and prepares to defend himself:

Well, wouldn't you know it... in the version they presented on the Disney Channel the other day, they had digitally removed the shotgun and replaced it with a broom. Yes, Mickey grabbed a broom off of the gun rack, shouldered it, and prepared to defend himself with his handy, dandy tactical... broom.


Really, Disney? Really? 
Do you think we have come to the point as a society that we can't even allow guns to be seen by children for fear that it will cause them to become crazed, blood thirsty psychopaths? Do you really think guns are so evil that the mere sight of one will cause blood to run in the streets? Give me a break!

Disney cartoons from that era have featured firearms literally more times than I can count. They've depicted firearms in terms of being a legitimate means of self defense, as a means to take game animals, and they have shown firearms as the indispensable tool that they are for every cowboy and cowgirl of the old west. Several generations have now been brought up with Disney cartoons that have depicted firearms as an integral part of their plot, and now you are telling me that we as a society can no longer handle it?... That our children must be completely isolated from the mere sight of a cartoon gun? Ridiculous!

No one outside of Disney can definitively say why they would choose this extremely misguided approach to self censorship, but I find it very disturbing. Did they choose to do this because they are anti-gun? Did they do it because they actually believe that kids seeing firearms would be detrimental? Perhaps they are just so afraid of the loony liberal soccer mom's that might email them about it that they felt it was just the easiest path to take. I dont know the answer to the question of "why" they are doing this, but my response to them is the same no matter what... SHAME ON YOU, DISNEY! SHAME ON YOU!

If Disney is actually concerned about child safety with regards to firearms, then I would suggest they team up with the NRA and devote some significant airtime to letting Eddie Eagle educate children about what to do if they find a gun. Not allowing children to be exposed to even the sight of a gun is not the answer. In fact, that's what gets kids killed. The responsible thing to do is to talk to kids about guns. Tell them about the dangers, and educate them about how to be safe. Disney has a captive audience to say the least, and they should be doing everything they can to educate children (and parents) in our nation about gun safety. Disney should be doing their part to give children the knowledge that they need to keep them safe if they do ever happen to find a gun. Spreading the message of "Stop. Don't touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult." is the path they should be taking. If Disney actually wants to make a difference when it comes to the safety of children, then they should be providing the millions of children that watch their network with useful information about firearms that will actually prevent accidents.

Disney sticking their heads in the sand and hoping that kids never see what a gun looks like is not the answer. Talking openly and honestly about gun safety is what will actually help children. How great would it be if an entire generation that is going to grow up watching the Disney Channel could be exposed to such valuable information about gun safety. What Disney is currently doing is misguided and extremely dangerous. They are not helping to keep kids safe, and they are being extremely counterproductive towards preventing gun accidents in America.