By WILL PAFFORD, Alligator Writer Hello Kitty stickers are part of the latest danger to police officers nationwide.
Hello Kitty stickers are part of the latest danger to police officers nationwide.
No, you read that correctly. Stickers are dangerous to police officers (apparently not to 5 year old girls who adorn every open surface with them).
Stickers.
Deadly stickers.
Of course, they're talking about this firearm
The sole purpose of these guns is to fool the observer, said Lt. Rob Koehler of GPD’s Tactical Impact Unit.
No, the sole purpose is to highlight how f'in ridiculous laws are that ban firearms based on how they look rather than how they function. The creator of the firearm says so in the comments.
"If you saw this, your initial impulse would be, ‘This is a toy,’" Koehler said. Koehler said these types of guns are especially dangerous to police because they can prevent officers from taking appropriate action, such as using force or avoiding danger. That moment when an officer first sees someone with a gun could mean everything in terms of how he or she responds, Koehler said. "It gives the advantage to the carrier," he said. "That moment the person sees it could mean everything."Although guns have been customized with camouflage print for quite some time, hot pink and neon green paint jobs are relatively new, according to the release.
"If you saw this, your initial impulse would be, ‘This is a toy,’" Koehler said.
Koehler said these types of guns are especially dangerous to police because they can prevent officers from taking appropriate action, such as using force or avoiding danger.
That moment when an officer first sees someone with a gun could mean everything in terms of how he or she responds, Koehler said.
"It gives the advantage to the carrier," he said. "That moment the person sees it could mean everything."Although guns have been customized with camouflage print for quite some time, hot pink and neon green paint jobs are relatively new, according to the release.
What's not a "new" phenomenon are toy guns. In fact, while a horrible accident, no cop should be punished for shooting someone with a toy gun they thought was real. Parents should teach their kids never to point firearms at anyone.
And please, if this was such a problem, all it would take is some fluorescent orange spray paint on the muzzle to make any rifle look like a toy. The fact of the matter is a cop's job is dangerous and they should be prepared for any emergency.
These guns are not only a problem for officers, but for children as well. In the past, officers have misjudged toy guns for real ones with tragic results, according to a news release from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The colorful guns are also more easily mistaken for toys by children, who may find their parents’ firearms, according to the release.
These guns are not only a problem for officers, but for children as well.
In the past, officers have misjudged toy guns for real ones with tragic results, according to a news release from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
The colorful guns are also more easily mistaken for toys by children, who may find their parents’ firearms, according to the release.
Well tickle me flat-black, you mean the Brady Bunch has a hand in this? Whoodathunk?
"Can you imagine a child finding a pastel blue or pink Glock, fully loaded?" the release stated. Guns can be painted professionally or with at-home kits available on the Internet. Although GPD officers have not encountered a painted gun locally, the weapons are a growing concern elsewhere in the country. These "designer guns," as the notice calls them, have become such a problem that New York City lawmakers are working on passing legislation to ban guns colored to look like toys.
"Can you imagine a child finding a pastel blue or pink Glock, fully loaded?" the release stated.
Guns can be painted professionally or with at-home kits available on the Internet.
Although GPD officers have not encountered a painted gun locally, the weapons are a growing concern elsewhere in the country.
These "designer guns," as the notice calls them, have become such a problem that New York City lawmakers are working on passing legislation to ban guns colored to look like toys.
Being that toys look just like the real thing, I can see why lawmakers are thinking about this. De facto ban!
Look, my old man is a cop and I don't want him to be in any more danger than he needs to be, but as a police officer, he chose his field knowing how dangerous it is. The same logic that can be used to say a particular color is illegal because it is a danger to the police can easily be moved to say "any gun" is a danger to police. When the toys are black, how could a cop tell then?
Or, you could look at it from a serious angle - most people who have the finances and wherewithal to paint their guns aren't the ones you need to worry about. But logic has never been a Brady strong point.