In my own experience, I was eighteen inches away from one, and couldn’t tell the difference until I picked up. Looked just like a H and K UPS 45 and my suspect got his sorry ass shot over it too.
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Yes, the picture of the airsoft HANDGUN in your linked article I concede could easily be mistaken for a real handgun—and I would understand a shooting when a suspicious person pulled one OF THOSE.
However, go to the above linked article with the picture of an actual AK47 rifle side-by-side with the actual airsoft replica the 13 year old kid had. For anyone with the smallest familiarity with AK47s (that should include most veterans) there is NO possibility of mistaking the “replica” for the real thing. Training of all Cops and deputies should include familiarization with common weapons such as AK47 rifles. There is NO EXCUSE for this killing of a person carrying a toy.
Please don’t “mix up apples and oranges” in an attempt to defend these despicable cops.
NO possibility?
So, how did a combat vet, who is a twenty year firearms instructor get it wrong? Oh that’s right, the officer just wanted to murder a kid.
Albeit the front sight is gone, that does not affect the firing or real or toy and the furniture looks more AK-74 that AK-47, at least to me.
You are failing to take into account the distances the officers are viewing from.
Oh BTW, how many shootings have you been in or how many times have you had someone point a rifle at you? I’m curious, because you are the expert on such things apparently.