Published: April 15, 2009 10:08 pm      

Kudos on airsoft gun law

EDMOND — The Edmond City Council took an important step in potentially saving the lives of local children this week with the approval of a new ordinance. The law makes it illegal in Edmond for anyone to possess “airsoft guns” that have had the federally mandated orange tips altered.

Manufacturers of “toy” guns are now making models that are incredibly difficult to tell apart from the real thing. For almost every type of firearm on the market, its doppelgänger is out there and sold as a “toy.” Federal law mandates manufacturers put the orange tips on the airsoft guns to help law enforcement identify them from the real thing.

However, many youth are spray painting over those orange tips to enhance the look of their purchase. This practice has led to deaths across the nation when law enforcement encounters someone with what appears to be a real gun. Children often make poor decisions when confronted by someone and this has lead to several tragedies.

Fortunately, our police officers have not had to face the death of a child in an incident of this nature, but they have come close, an officer told the council Monday night. Last year alone, Edmond Police went out on calls 15 times where they found a person with what looked like a gun that turned out to be a toy gun with the orange tip altered.

The intent of the ordinance is to help spread the word that our youth should not be out creating mischief with altered airsoft guns. That decision very likely could cost them their life if an officer cannot determine the nature of the weapon in time.