Sep 12, 2007 8:22 pm US/Central
Fake Or Real? Mpls. Looks At Toy Gun Ordinance
by Darcy Pohland
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
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Looking at two different guns it can be hard to tell which one is fake and which one is real, and the confusing similarities are exactly why the city council is debating the ban. (File)
CBS 3
Minneapolis is considering an ordinance to ban replica guns that look like too much like the real thing.
Looking at two different guns it can be hard to tell which one is fake and which one is real, and the confusing similarities are exactly why the city council is debating the ban.
In the fall of 2004, teenager Courtney Williams was shot to death by police after they allegedly mistook his pellet gun for a real gun.
"There's a lot of people going around with fake guns, real guns. They both look alike, it's hard to tell if they're real or fake," said Minneapolis teenager Markis Kelly.
Police said some people are using fake guns to commit crimes.
"I know people who've gotten jumped with a fake gun, people just come up to them and say give me your stuff," said Kelly.
According to investigators, young people are the ones using fake weapons. So in order to prevent increasing armed robberies and tragedies like Courtney Williams, Minneapolis may ban fake firearms from the street.
"We're going to say if you have a fake gun, it'll carry the same legal impact as having a real gun," said Minneapolis City Councilmember Don Samuels.
The idea is a welcome one to people in high crime neighborhoods.
"I think it's a great idea because we don't need more violence in the area. We already got to deal with real guns, so fake guns ... that's really a good idea," said Minneapolis teenager Twin Williams.
The proposed ban was just introduced on Wednesday in a city council committee. It would ban fake firearms from any public place, streets, businesses, restaurants and parks; anywhere where it could pose potential threat or danger to others.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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