Thread: Is That a Real Gun Or a Toy?

Federal law requires the following for imitation firearms:

Current federal law requires that no person shall manufacture,
enter into commerce, ship, transport, or receive any toy,
look-alike, or imitation firearm ("device"), as defined, unless
such device contains, or has affixed to it a bright orange
marking, as specified, covering the circumference of the barrel
from the muzzle end for a depth of at least 6 millimeters,
unless exempted, as specified. (15 United States Code section
5001, 15 Code of Federal Regulations sections 1150.2, 1150.3.)
This requirement does not apply to "traditional B-B, paint-ball,
or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the
force of air pressure." (15 United States Code § 5001(c).)

However, as I was reading this article early this evening, the following phrase caught my attention:

The toy looks like an Airsoft gun, which come in silver and black, with an orange tip that some children take off or cover with black marker, he said. Dilibert did not see if the orange tip of the toy gun in question was removed or colored over.

Although there are consequences, which include monetary penalties and misdemeanor charges, what is your opinion about this type of legislation that is often times ignored by the people it's supposed to protect?

Other articles indicate this is a trend and not a single instance:

Deputy Shoots Teen Wielding Pellet Gun

Additionally, criminals are painting the end of real guns to look like toys:

Is That A Real Gun or Toy?

Kind of tricky. On the one hand, it seems like stupidity taking the form of legislation to protect people from nothing. On the other, I've never been in a shoot/don't shoot situation and been rushed by a ten year old wielding a cap gun.