Toy guns and toddlers

I know parents talk about this stuff all the time, but I still need to do it myself.

So I've had a bad day and needed a time waster, so I called a friend whose husband is out of town and asked if she wanted to head to McDonald's to let the kids burn off some energy. A little playtime at McD's shouldn't hurt.

So we ate, then we let the kids play. They are all playing so well, and this playplace is great because it's all music stuff and brand new. They even have baby sized stuff for my little one to climb on. She was having a blast. So the first thing that happened was a big kid (like 8 or 9) kept climbing on the baby/toddler stuff and knocking Zoe over. His father said something to him once and that one time I notice his dad signing to him, so I didn't know if I should say something or not. I know a little bit of sign language, but I don't know "tell your kid to get the fuck off mine" in sign, so I didn't say anything at all.

Anyway...not the point at all, but speaking of point.... Two boys, about 5 and 7 came along one wearing toy handcuffs on his wrist and both carrying toy guns. They were very plastic looking, one bright orange and one silver. One walked right up to my 12 month old and pointed it in her face and said "bang bang" Now neither of my kids know what that means, but shit! Effing freaked me out. I told Arwen two more minutes, mumbled something like, "no, please don't do that" to the kid with the toy gun and moved Zoe to another area. After coaxing my three year old down from the slide area, one of the kids walked by me and pushed me to get by - I was half was in the play structure getting her to come down. I said, excuse me in a really rude fashion and then said that wasn't very nice. Now it's not usually my style to correct other kids, but this was pissing me off! So then the one that didn't push me said sorry and I thanked him for saying it. They went up, and came down the slide, I was getting my daughter's shoes on and the one that pushed came around pointing that gun at everyone. No one said a word. Until he got to me and pointed it at Arwen. I looked at him and said "Stop, get away from us, I don't like you pointing guns at my kids. Let us move out of the way and you can play, but not with us"
I was so pissed.

So here's the question. Do you let your kids play with toy guns? If you do, do they just do it at home or do you let them take them out in public? If you're not at that age yet, do you think it is right for parents to allow these kinds of toys in a public play area? I know they are just toys, but I feel that parents should respect that many kids might be frightened my them or many parents might feel uncomfortable and they should leave them at home and only play with them when they are around they friends that allow them, but not in a playplace for goodness sakes. We are Columbine....how many times a day do I see that on bumper stickers, license plates and other things living here.... what are your thoughts?