New Jersey could require toy guns to have visible orange stripe

The sale of real-looking toy guns could be banned in New Jersey if a bill passed by the Assembly becomes law.

Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver said the imitation weapons can be a hazard.

“Children were bringing them to school. They would sometimes intimidate other students. Their classmates did not know they were toys.”

Oliver said there could be tragic consequences if police don’t realize a gun a child is holding is a toy. And she says the replica guns have fooled crime victims.

“We’ve had a significant number of cases in New Jersey from one end of the state to another where adults have used toy guns to rob banks, to stick up people, and to do other kinds of things.”

Assemblyman Dave Rible was among Republicans who voted against the legislation that requires toy guns to be marked with a permanent orange stripe.

“The criminals are now going to put orange tips on the real guns to fool law enforcement to think that maybe it might be a toy gun which I think unfortunately could result in more fatal shootings of police officers.”

Rible said teaching kids to stay away from guns would be more effective in preventing violence.