N.J. lawmaker proposes halting sale of realistic-looking toy guns

A bill approved by a New Jersey Assembly committee would ban the sale of realistic-looking toy guns.

The legislation calls for imitation guns to have at least a 1-inch orange stripe along each side of the toy gun’s barrel.

Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver proposed the measure after an Ohio boy was killed by police while holding a pellet gun that they thought was a deadly weapon.

She said she disagrees with those who say the free enterprise system should allow replica guns in stores where kids can buy them.

“I’m very sorry,” said Oliver, D-Essex. “I take umbrage with that when there is something that looks like [a real gun] can be purchased in a local confectionery story and a 12-year-old can be dead as a result of it.”

Assemblyman Dave Rible, a retired police officer, voted against the bill, questioning how effective it would be.

“What is preventing the criminal minds from saying, all right, we are now going to put an orange stripe on a Sig Sauer P239 and the next time law enforcement stops you or you draw down, law enforcement is going to think it’s a toy gun and now you’re one up on law enforcement,” said Rible, R-Monmouth.