yes Peter, just coincidence I'm sure.
Don't forget in those days most rural households had guns which were used most days for pest and vermin control and a spot of poaching too, and what small boy doesnt like playing with guns ?. Much like the horribly high numbers of children accidentally maimed or even killed in busy kit-chens from scalding water, or their clothes catching fire from open fires or night-time candles -- in those days huge numbers of children suffered terrible accidents which were almost considered normal, whereas nowadays it's very rare thankfully.