“People call because they’ve see someone with a gun; we arrive in the area and it’s the same thing we see. Luckily, our officers have had great restraint in dealing with that, but it is something we want to avoid.”Although incidents of people brandishing replica guns in a threatening manner is not common, “There has been a dramatic increase of those carrying them and being reported.” And that means a police response and possible orders at gunpoint to drop the weapon.“These replica firearms are very dangerous, due to the fact that citizens, as well as police officers responding to the scene of disturbances, may perceive that the replica is in fact real.” In a worst case scenario, brandishing a replica gun could lead to real shots being fired in self-defense by citizens or police officers who have no way of knowing that the weapon is not real.Senior Officer Smith noted that the culprit is the manufacturing that makes the faux weapon appear to be genuine. “They look real and you can’t tell they’re not real until you actually hold it in your hand and physically inspect it,” he said. “Parents are urged to inspect their children’s pellet or air soft guns to ensure that they are marked with the proper safety tips, which are usually orange in color,” noted Senior Officer Smith. Any questions regarding replica firearms can be answered by calling the SPPD at 525-4474.
Rising number of replica guns reported to SPPD prompts warning
March 30, 2007
Santa Paula Police Department
A rising number of reports of pellet and air guns that look like the real thing have prompted the Santa Paula Police Department to issue a warning that it is unlawful to brandish a replica firearm in a threatening manner, just one law-breaking issue related to fake weapons.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA rising number of reports of pellet and air guns that look like the real thing have prompted the Santa Paula Police Department to issue a warning that it is unlawful to brandish a replica firearm in a threatening manner, just one law-breaking issue related to fake weapons.According to SPPD Senior Officer Ryan Smith, the incident that prompted the warning occurred on March 22 when a Santa Paula man threatened a Southern California Edison worker with a pellet gun. The man was arrested on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon.“The Santa Paula Police Department would like to remind the public that it is unlawful to brandish a replica firearm in a threatening manner,” said Senior Officer Smith. “Additionally, it is illegal to remove the fluorescent color or colors from the replica firearm.”Senior Officer Smith said that such fluorescent colors are “basically to help identify the replica as a fake... usually, if you see a little kid with a gun with an orange chip on it” the marking means that the gun is not real. “We might stop and take a look at it anyway to make sure it’s okay, but it’s the older kids that might have one of these replica guns” lacking the replica marking that are the source of many calls to the SPPD.
