“National Rifle Association spokesman Ashley Varner said anti-toy gun legislation is ‘silly’ because ‘it doesn't deal with issues of crime.’
‘It won't eradicate the human element of the crime,’ she said. ‘It doesn't target getting criminals off the street.’â€
I agree with Varner on this one. Getting rid of Airsoft guns isn’t going to stop crime. Adding laws that punish people who use toys to commit a crime seems reasonable, but the focus should be on the crime itself. Threatening to injure an officer should be considered a crime regardless of the “weapon.†Additionally, I am curious why a child walking around with any kind pistol had to be killed to stop him. The story does not suggest in it that the kid was hiding behind anything or even pointing his pistol at anyone. That generally suggests a clear shot from a trained officer. I understand being unable to save someone with damage to vital organs, but a single injury to an arm or leg would not usually kill someone (not something I would want obviously, but clearly survivable). However, the child is still at fault for ignoring the officer’s orders, so I support the officer in his need to protect himself and others.