Boston Looks to Outlaw Replica Handguns

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh filed an ordinance that would ban replica handguns in public spaces. If approved by the Boston City Council, these regulations would take effect immediately, the mayor’s office announced Monday.

“We’ve seen too many violent incidents this year, and we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of Boston residents and visitors,” said Walsh. “This ordinance will send a strong message - that guns of all kinds, including imitation firearms, make our community dangerous. By engaging parents and guardians, we hope to create allies in our effort to remove replica firearms from the hands of our youth.”

The ordinance will increase public safety by banning replica handguns that are not clearly labeled in public spaces. So far this year, the Boston Police Department (BPD) has recovered over 100 replica handguns in connection with crimes. Given the authentic look of many of the replica guns on Boston’s streets, residents and even police officers have a difficult time determining what is a real firearm versus an imitation firearm.

This ordinance will allow BPD to confiscate replica firearms and require the owner to pick up the confiscated replica firearm in person at the district station. If a replica handgun is confiscated from someone under the age of 18, BPD will notify the parent or guardian that the minor was found with a replica handgun in a public space, and the parent or guardian will have the option to retrieve the replica firearm. BPD will not release a replica handgun directly to the minor.

“Replica guns have become a big issue for us. We all too often encounter young people who are carrying these fake guns and even though they are fake, the public and police don’t know they are,” said Commissioner William B. Evans. “Our goal is to make the city the safest place it can be and this ordinance will help remind the public and residents of the dangers these replica guns present.”

The goal of the legislation is to make residents aware of the danger of replica handguns and increase the dialogue about the consequences of replica handguns with Boston’s young people.