Posted on 04/25/2018 1:36:11 PM PDT by marktwain
In Iowa, criminals who use imitation guns are not treated as harshly under the law as are criminals who use real guns. It seems an obvious policy decision. When criminals use imitation guns, the vast majority of the risk is on the criminal. They are more likely to be shot. They are not able to shoot back. They are relying on the power of bluff and image to coerce people who they are attempting to victimize. It seems like a win-win for law and order.
In a recent AP article, a county attorney and a police chief want to change that. From usnews.com:
But police say they would support stronger deterrents in the law against using them like real weapons. The worry is twofold: First, that people are using them to commit crimes, and second, that a situation could arise where, in self-defense, a civilian or a police officer would use shoot someone displaying one.
While it's illegal to carry a real firearm in city limits without a concealed carry permit, Sioux City code does allow for the carry of lookalike toy weapons, such as a hand BB guns, provided they are not discharged. Police can only confiscate such weapons if they are used in a crime.
You're not going to come across a lot of cops who have not patted someone down for weapons and found simulated weapons at one point in time, Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller told the Sioux City Journal . (But) there's kind of a gap in the law there that allows police officers to act.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
I once knew a convicted armed robber who told me that, before going in to rob, you have to mentally prepare yourself to gun down everyone in the place, just in case some idiot decides to endanger you by doing something stupid.
What he would think of someone going in with a fake weapon, I can only imagine. But it would probably go something like this. If you endanger yourself committing a crime by hoping to get a lesser sentence if caught, you probably shouldn’t be in the business.
If its committing a crime of their own volition/decision/free will, should be treated like its real live weapon. Sentence should reflect it. Why docthey deserve any break, no one knows it and since criminals often get the murder charges if one of their fellow crooks is shot and dies during the crime, that fake gun put peoples lives at risk.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s of a piece with ‘hate’ crimes.
The punishment should fit the crime, not your intentions going into it.
No real advantage. You use a fake gun in Michigan you still get charged with armed crimes.
CC
It is fantastic if they use fake guns, because the armed citizen with a real gun always win.
All the dead are criminals that way.
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