| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | weapons. They must also warn on their packaging |
| It may seem crazy that toy guns would have legal | | | | that the modification of the guns may result in legal |
| restrictions, but airguns and other toy rifles are often | | | | ramifications. This year, on New Year's Day, a retired |
| made to look startlingly realistic. Kids may be | | | | Sacramento firefighter used a pellet gun to hold up a |
| confused whether they're picking up their toy or a | | | | mini-mart and died in a standoff with the police. |
| relative's loaded real rifle lying around the house. | | | | A week later, another man was injured in Rancho |
| Insolent teens may point their toy guns at a police | | | | Cordova when police responded to a 9-1-1 call and |
| officer in a standoff, prompting them to get shot by | | | | shot at a man holding a gun, which turned out to hold |
| real guns. There is a general federal gun law for toys, | | | | only pellets, not lethal guns ammo. In California, |
| but the misuse of these weapons has prompted | | | | brandishing fake guns as real ones is punishable by a |
| several local municipalities to create legislation of their | | | | $100 fine for the first offense, $200 for the second |
| own. | | | | offense and is considered a misdemeanor by the |
| Under federal gun law, airsoft guns must be | | | | third offense. |
| manufactured with a 6 mm orange tip at the barrel | | | | Not all kids take local gun law edicts seriously, |
| end. The packaging must inform consumers that | | | | however. In 2006, a Longwood, Florida student |
| tampering with the manufacturer logo or orange | | | | painted over the orange tip and threatened students |
| tipped barrel could result in penalties. | | | | at school with his airgun. The sheriff called to the |
| Individuals who use these guns as though they are | | | | scene also thought the gun was real and, as a result, |
| real firearms -- such as in a robbery or police | | | | shot and killed the student. |
| standoff -- will be charged as if the gun were real. | | | | Dangerous or not, there is no reason for kids to bring |
| U.S. law stipulates that no one under 18 can purchase | | | | these toy guns to school. Most schools have rules |
| an airsoft gun. These laws were put in place to | | | | sentencing the child to temporary suspension or even |
| protect law enforcement personnel and teens from | | | | permanent expulsion for bringing airsoft guns on |
| misunderstandings, injuries and deaths. | | | | school property. Parents should ensure their kids |
| In California, the toy gun law stipulates that | | | | abide by the laws to protect themselves from harm's |
| manufacturers must put an orange ring around the | | | | way. |
| barrel to distinguish shiny toy guns from real | | | | |