CA: Ban Toy Guns That Look Like the Real Thing!
- by: Kristi Arnold
- recipient: President of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor, Gavin Newsom, President pro Tempore, Darrell Steinberg, Majority Leader, Senator Ellen M. Corbett, Minority Leader, Senator Bob Huff
Last October, a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by a police officer because the toy gun he was holding looked real. While protests were held in response to the officer being set free, the root of the problem is the toy itself. Without the existance of toy guns that look real that boy would not have been killed.
Andy Lopez, the 13-year-old who was killed, was carrying a BB gun made to look like an AK47. Toy guns should are supposed to be differentiated by a bright orange plug at the end of the barrel. A friend of Lopez’s who spoke to investigators during the DA investigation said the tip on Lopez’s gun broke off when he dropped the gun. This is why these guns should not be made to look anything like the real guns. A small orange plug is simply not enough.
A bill introduced since Lopez’s death would require BB and air guns to be more clearly marked as toys. Distinguishing features throughout, such as brightly colored plastic, are required for other toy guns. However, that California law requirement does not currently apply to BB and air guns.
Urge California lawmakers to pass the bill to more clearly mark toy guns as toys!
Dear Sirs and Madams,
We the undersigned ask that you pass the bill to more clearly mark toy guns as toys!
Last October, a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by a police officer because the toy gun he was holding looked real. While protests were held in response to the officer being set free, the root of the problem is the toy itself. Without the existance of toy guns that look real that boy would not have been killed.
Andy Lopez, the 13-year-old who was killed, was carrying a BB gun made to look like an AK47. Toy guns should are supposed to be differentiated by a bright orange plug at the end of the barrel. A friend of Lopez’s who spoke to investigators during the DA investigation said the tip on Lopez’s gun broke off when he dropped the gun. This is why these guns should not be made to look anything like the real guns. A small orange plug is simply not enough.
A bill introduced since Lopez’s death would require BB and air guns to be more clearly marked as toys. Distinguishing features throughout, such as brightly colored plastic, are required for other toy guns. However, that California law requirement does not currently apply to BB and air guns.
Pass the bill to more clearly mark toy guns as toys!
