http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/19/boy-scouts-of-america-bans-water-gun-fights/ "Boy Scouts of America bans water gun fights; ‘pointing a firearm’ is not kind"
The Boy Scouts of America, an organization with semi-military origins, has put out approved activities for its members, and water gun fights are strictly prohibited.
A blog for the organization’s leaders said May 6 that pointing simulated firearms at people is not allowed.
“Why the rule? A Scouter once told me this explanation I liked quite a bit: A Scout is kind. What part of pointing a firearm [simulated or otherwise] at someone is kind?” said Bryan Wendell on the scouting website.
The rule is clarified in the Boy Scouts of America National Shooting Manual, which says “For water balloons, use small, biodegradable balloons, and fill them no larger than a ping pong ball. […] Water guns and rubber band guns must only be used to shoot at targets, and eye protection must be worn.”
The manual includes a lengthy list of other prohibited items — boomerangs, crossbows, potato guns, spear guns and throwing stars. Scouts also may not use “marshmallow shooters that require placing a straw or similar device in the mouth.”
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. And led by those who are so risk-aversive that they go around looking for any vestige of fun to suck out of the program. It can't be that long ago when my neighbor's kid borrowed my .22LR to take on a winter camping trip so that he could earn merit badges in tracking, hunting, and cooking squirrels. (And even if there were no merit badges for those things that was what the Troop Leader had decided was the main agenda for the trip.) Along with building snow forts, a no-holds-barred snowball fight between the patrols, and figuring out how to sleep dry and warm in wet snow.
Today tiddlywinks is probably considered too aggressive.
stay safe.