Massachusetts officials backing new law for clear markings on fake guns
Top Boston and state political officials are pushing for a new law that would mandate clear markings on imitation firearms in Massachusetts, according to The Boston Globe.
The bill, set for a hearing at the State House on Thursday, would mandate clear markings for “items not considered toys under federal guidelines, such as BB guns, pellet guns and air-rifles that expel a projectile through the force of compressed air or a spring action,’’ the Globe reported. The bill would allow police to confiscate imitation firearms being used with malicious intent.
The effort is in response to an incident in Cleveland over a year ago when a police officer shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was holding a pellet gun.
“These replica guns pose a serious public safety issue for us,’’ Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told the Globe. “I don’t want what happened in Cleveland with Tamir Rice to happen here.’’
Gun rights advocates who oppose the bill argue that once a real firearm with replicated markings is used in a crime, police will ignore markings altogether.
Boston officials have already taken action on the issue, banning the use of unmarked replica handguns in public spaces in November, according to the Globe. Current federal law and regulations mandate that toy guns be a non-gun color, like white or bright green, or have a blaze orange plug inserted in their barrels.
The push toward clearer markings on fake guns comes the same week that President Barack Obama unveiled his presidential plan to cut gun violence nationally.
Read the full story at the Globe.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com