Toy guns made to look like the real thing would be banned in California under legislation announced Friday in Sonoma County, where a sheriff's deputy last month shot and killed a 13-year-old boy after mistaking his replica AK-47 pellet gun for an assault rifle.
The bill, to be introduced by five lawmakers, would require pellet and other toy guns to be brightly colored or translucent so they are easily recognized. Federal law requires the replica guns only to have an orange mark on the tip of the barrel.
The legislators held a news conference in Santa Rosa, a few miles from where Deputy Erick Gelhaus shot and killed Andy Lopez Cruz on Oct. 22 as the boy walked with a pellet gun near his home just outside the city.
According to police who are investigating the killing, Gelhaus pulled up behind the boy and ordered him to drop the gun - which did not have an orange tip - and then fired eight times when the boy began to turn. The shooting prompted street rallies and a lawsuit filed by Andy's family.
State Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, one of the sponsors of the new legislation, introduced a similar bill two years ago after police shot and paralyzed a 13-year-old Los Angeles boy with a toy gun. That bill stalled in committee.
"Carrying a pellet or BB gun that looks like a real weapon in public is punishable as an infraction in California, and the guns may not be purchased legally by anyone younger than 18. Federal law requires some pellet guns to have orange tips, but they can be removed. The one Andy carried had no tip, and the LAPD officer who shot the boy in Glassell Park said he didn't see the orange plug."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-me-replica-guns-20131105,0,1636157.story?track=rss
Unfortunately, its hard to stymie a determine kid in his quest to own the most realistic toy gun. It sounds like the orange tip was removed. Want to bet they'll also be willing to spend some money for a can of spray paint? After all it seems like he was already breaking the law.
There is no "official" toy gun color either. And in recent years, metal treatments have greatly expanded the available colors for real guns.
http://gearsofguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/25jan2-hello-kitty-rifle1.jpg
Of course--it's California. You're only allowed to be free there as long as you follow carefully prescribed freedoms.
ReplyDeleteTS, keep fighting, brother. You have not been forgotten.
As long as you follow the law, which you do not, so why worry?
DeleteThanks, Greg. I'm glad you don't forget about the soldiers on the front line.
DeleteIt's a battle on many fronts, and we'd all understand if you decide to come to the free states, but we do appreciate you.
DeleteYeah, TS sees himself like a soldier on the front line. And Greg sees himself as a persecuted victim of government abuse. You guys would fail the mental health test, if they ever have one.
DeleteMikeb, the fact that you believe that is proof enough that we can never trust you or allow your ideas to become law.
DeleteWhat ever happened to "90% of you--- er 50% of you have nothing to worry about"? Now you are saying the use of figurative metaphors is indicative of disqualifying mental illness.
DeleteI wonder what percentage of gun owners think of themselves in these metaphorical ways.
DeleteGood. There is no reason why a toy gun, BB gun, or pellet gun needs to look realistic. They are routinely used to threaten, injure, and rob people. And, yes, they kill, too. Plenty of examples here: http://kidshootings.blogspot.com/search/label/Pellet%20and%20BB%20Guns
ReplyDeleteand here:
http://walmartshootings.blogspot.com/search/label/pellet%2FBB%20gun
Why would I visit your blogs? You don't allow comments.
DeleteAnd you don't respond to comments, so what's the problem?
DeleteSo if they are deadly weapons then why should they not look like other guns? I understand the toy gun distinction as those do not fire projectiles capable of injuring or killing someone, but why the BB or pellet guns? Aren't those weapons in reality?
ReplyDeleteBB and pellet guns don't fall under the definition of firearms in most jurisdictions.
Delete