“The Cleveland Patrolmen’s Association announced it will soon be filing a lawsuit against toy gun manufacturers in federal court… [seeking] to restrict the design of toy guns, so they don’t look so realistic.” City police came under nationwide criticism following the fatal police shooting of Tamir Rice, 12, who was in possession of a toy gun at a park. [WEWS News 5 Cleveland]
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“The remedy that we’d be looking for is that that gun could not replicate. That that gun would be of such a color have such a tip.”
I was reasonably certain that makers of toy/airsoft/etc. guns already had to ship their merchandise with orange tips installed. It’s just that (in most states) it’s not illegal for owners to remove or modify those identifying tips after purchase. Not that it’s unprecedented to hold manufacturers responsible for items that are readily modified by users into more dangerous forms (i.e., airsoft guns that can be modified into actual firearms, guns that fire from an open bolt. etc.), but… even if, say, toy/replica guns had to be entirely neon colors, people can paint things. Would the Cleveland police hold a manufacturer responsible if an end user spray painted the thing matte black?
Airsoft guns aren’t manufactured as toys. They were originally developed for law enforcement agencies to use for “live fire” training. They are SUPPOSED to look like the real thing.
Parkhorse wrote:
I was thinking the other way around.
Why wouldn’t an arch fiend paint the tip of a real gun a neon color so it would look at a glance like a toy gun?
If police actually make decisions whether to shoot based upon the color of a gun’s tip, such a plan would give the criminal an advantage, at least for a moment.
This suit may qualify for “Most stupid suit of the year”. Anyone who can legally purchase a firearm can purchase one in any color or color-scheme desired. Want a Pink Pistol? There’s a gay rights organization by that name and (Surprise! Surprise!) its members own bright pink pistols on which they train. Want an Orange AR-15? I believe you can order it through Wal-Mart. Certainly any licensed gun dealer can order it. Believe that Blue Lives Matter? Buy a Bright Blue .38 Police Special.