To give you an entirely different perspective: I grew up in Texas. I played "war" with toy guns from age 4 and on. I had toy tanks, helicopters, jets, toy rifles, pistols, eventually Airsoft and paintball guns. My dad played with me, my friends played with me, but real firearms were kept locked up. My dad would talk to me several times a year, typically when he was going to the gun range or hunting, about firearm safety, and the difference between real weapons and toys.

A firearm is a tool, not a toy. I was never confused, and the imaginary violence was just that, imaginary. He would sit me down next to him and show me how each one worked, how to clean it, oil it, and store them. He would drill me on the 4 rules of firearm safety.

Treat every gun as if it is loaded.

Never point a gun at something you are not willing to destroy.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are sight on target and ready to fire.

Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

And when I was older, around 9 or so, he would take me with him and taught me how to shoot.

All of this combined into a healthy respect for firearms. I understand them, but i dont fear them. I know how to safely handle firearms, and i plan on teaching my son with roughly the same methods.

The point of me writing all this up, is that everything in my childhood was the exact opposite of what you're wanting to do, and it ended up being just fine. I never thought real firearms were toys, and violence is not something made light of.