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Posted on 07/11/2007 5:23:28 PM PDT by texanyankee
A New Jersey senator wants to make it illegal to sell or give to anyone under age 18 toy guns that look so realistic they can be mistaken for a real firearm.
"The margin between a child's stupid mistake and a tragic ending is far too thin," said Sen. Nicholas Scutari.
Scutari, D-Union, introduced the proposal in late June and plans to push it when the Legislature reconvenes late this year. He said the bill stems from an incident in a Union Township where four students were suspended after bringing a cap gun to school.
"We need to stress to our children that guns are not toys, but deadly weapons which should always be regarded with extreme caution and handled with respect," Scutari said. "Restricting access to imitation firearms will help to drive that point home."
Gun rights advocates plan to fight the bill.
"It misses the mark because it demonizes toys instead of criminal behavior," said Scott Bach, president of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, which is the National Rifle Association's New Jersey organization.
If the measure is enacted, New Jersey would join several states that have restricted access to realistic toy guns to minors.
New York, for instance, got Wal-Mart in 2003 to stop selling toy guns that fail to have a non-removable orange stripe along the barrel. The retailer also agreed to stop selling toy guns in realistic colors such as black, blue and silver and paid $200,000 in civil penalties.
Scutari's bill would make it illegal to sell or give to anyone under 18 and imitation firearm, which is defined as anything "reasonably capable of being mistaken for a firearm."
The bill is based on a 1987 New Jersey law that bars the sale of hunting, fishing, combat and survival knives with blades of more than five inches to anyone under 18.
Violators would face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in prison.
Scutari said the bill would help police and school officials figure out whether a firearm is either fake or real, but Bach said it would intrude upon retailers and parents.
"This bill seeks to intimidate retailers of even toy water pistols rather than to address the bad acts of criminals who use imitation guns in furtherance of crime," Bach said. "A parent who gives a child a toy firearm as a gift would be guilty under this legislation."
Last week I went to a party where guests were encouraged to bring their kids (the hosts have three sons and a house full of toys). I was enthralled by one little girl who clutched a toy automatic pistol, clicking it constantly. When I told her father that this meant she might grow up to be a Republican, he glared daggers at me. A boy about the same age picked up a dinosaur toy, leveled it at anyone listening, while shouting “Bang! Bang!” His mother assured me that “there are no war toys in our house”.
Strange how kids often prove smarter than politicians.
I know we have to use guns to protect our homes and to provide some dinner, but I also look forward to the day when the King of Kings rules with an iron fist and we’ll be safe enough to have them melted into gardening tools. Until then, until He says it’s safe, we can never give up our guns.
The kid with the toy gun shot by the cop is pure Darwin in action; point something that looks like a gun at a cop and you’re too stupid to live.
It always amazes me that there are so many more horses arses than horses.
Not to mention how many of them end up on the taxpayers payroll.
What about paint ball guns can they be useful if bright colored?
Most big water blasters are bright colored last time I played with one (years ago).
And most lil squirt guns are bright clear colors.
I have no problem with them requesting that toy guns be bright colored so they are not mistakened for realistic guns.
Heck with the lil (10 yr old) gang bangers packing real guns I can see why the need to have toy guns brightly colored.
It makes me wonder what they are teaching school these days, "Harry Potter?" I know common sense was cast out decades ago.
“A New Jersey idiot, would-be commissar, and petty tyrant - self-appointed Regulator of the Planet - wants to make it illegal to sell or give to anyone under age 18 toy guns...”
Now it’s closer to the truth.
Ban toy guns and replace them with candy cigarettes and then get over it.
My grandson is 15, if he runs across a freakin Cottonmouth Moccasin he just runs his little redneck butt right in, and grabs the weapon of choice! Hell,15, time enough to train a man, if that is what you set out to do!
NYC, mission work, Sheeat! Waste of time!
Those who live outside of the realm of normal living?
Do I win?
When I was 15 I had 5 years of gun toting and hunting alone under my belt.
When I was 10 I was with my Dad or older brother....
I wonder if they are teaching in school at all these days.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
Unfortunately, they make laws which can ultimately be enforced by deadly force.
When I was 10 I was with my Dad or older brother....When I was 10 my Christmas present As a 410 shotgun, and learned how to freeze my butt off rabbit hunting with my Dad.
When I was 12 and starting in Jr. High School, the school Cadet Corps issued me a fully operational 1903 Model 30-06 Springfield Army Rifle to drill with and to care for. We could either keep them at home or in the school armory. I kept mine at home most of the time so I could clean it at least twice a week, because woe to any cadet whose rifle Major Payne, U.S. Army, PMS&T, found not up to his standards.
When I was 17 I was commissioned and carried a regulation Army-type saber.
I was also a member of the school rifle team which met every Friday before school in the cafeteria (where our firing range was) for practice.
I was in the Cadet Corps for 6 years, amongst all of those heavily armed desperado and never once saw or heard of one of them commit a crime suing one of those deadly weapons -- nor did I see anyone point one of them at anyone -- THAT was the first thing we were taught BEFORE we even saw a rifle.
And breaking that rule meant instant dismissal from the Corp. No excuses. Can you imagine what what a pantyliner hemorrhage that Senator would have if he were suddenly transported back there. He'd probably die of fright.
OOOOPS!!!! Forgot to close my italics.
Oh well — it looks pretty like that, don’t you think?
Hmmmmmm.
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