As editor of Hudson Valley Parent and Hudson Valley Life, I receive many products to test. Some are fun – a movie screener to watch, a video game to test, a toy to try out. Others, not so much. I don’t think we’ll be trying many organic foods soon since most have tasted like someone tried to flavor cardboard.

            Since I’m a kid at heart, and I have three kids who are always looking for something silly to do, the Marshmallow Fun Company’s shooter sounded like goofy fun and we were willing to give it a whirl.

            The idea is to load up your marshmallows into the shooter and send them 30 feet into the air! It doesn’t hurt when you’re shot and the game can be played inside on a rainy day.

            Okay first things first – parents you WILL be finding rock hard marshmallows shot into many crevices into your home weeks later after you thought they were all cleaned up. Also, if you have younger kids who are enjoying the toy outside, make sure they are cautioned against eating the marshmallows that have landed in a pile of dirt.

            The shooter is goofy fun, but in all seriousness I was very taken back by its color and look. The version I received, the Executive Marshmallow Blower, is black and silver. The directions used actual gun terminologies. Although there is an orange knob at the top of the shooter and a see-through tunnel to put the marshmallows on top, the gun resembled true gun colors. It’s not something I could let my children play with outside. From a distance it can be mistaken for a weapon, especially to those unfamiliar with what a real gun looks like or those who understand what it’s like to go through lock down at schools when a funny looking item is carried throughout the building. I doubt anyone walking through the school halls, or a train station, with this would get far without being questioned.

            The shooters do come in other neon colors, but this one was sent to me. When I called the company, I spoke with a higher-up, who I won’t name here. When he told me, “oh but you have the executive model,” I asked him if that meant it wasn’t targeted to children. He responded by telling me ‘oh no, this toy is good for ages 9 to 99.’ I just don’t see it that way. I wouldn’t let my children play with this outside. Maybe I’m just overprotective, but I heard one-too many stories of a child getting shot because he or she carried a water gun that looked like the real thing.

            I get the idea and I encourage the fun…I just don’t understand why one of the versions has to look like this. What do you think?