School officials ask students to play it safe during "Nerf Wars"

Nerf Wars becoming popular new game for youngsters

HARTLAND (WITI)--"Heard a rumor that a young man had jumped through a window to avoid being shot with a Nerf gun and possibly cut his eye," described Deputy Pete Freyer, of the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. He's talking about a battle between high schoolers using toy guns, but packing the potential for escalation.

"We had heard that another young lady might have gotten a pretty significant bruise on a leg when she was bumped by an automobile when some kids jumped out of that car to shoot her with their Nerf guns," Freyer said.

The game is called "Nerf Wars" and a simple internet search shows its apparent popularity with kids around the country. That includes Arrowhead High School.

"Students pair up or make teams and then they have weekly contests to see, you know who can shoot each other and once you're shot you're out of the game," said Principal Greg Wieczorek.

School officials say it's not an issue at school. Obviously, students can't bring fake guns in, but they are alerting parents to the game, in hopes they'll help keep kids from taking unsafe risks while playing.

"My understanding is they were going into garages and homes," said Deputy Freyer. "But there can certainly be a situation where a young person found themselves in somebody's home unannounced and that a home owner could confront them thinking they were a burglar or some kind of an intruder and with some very negative consequences."

Another worry is that some might play the game while driving -- or in the nude.

"I've been told that if someone has either very little or no clothing on they can not be shot, that apparently is part of the game," said Deputy Freyer.

A note was sent to families last week, not with the goal of stopping the game but in hopes students will play it safe and smart.

"As long as they are doing it where they're not going to put themselves in harm's way, that's my biggest concern," said Wieczorek.