Roseville Police Looking to Curb Dangers of Replica Guns

Last November Roseville resident Wayne Malone leveled a black toy pellet gun at two Roseville Police officers. The officers, responding to a 911 call, mistook the toy gun for a real one and fired eight times at Malone, fatally hitting him.

(The Washington County Attorney's office ultimately cleared the officers of wrongdoing.)

There have been several recent incidents with Roseville police and toy firearms, including a seven-hour standoff in February that ended with police confiscating an orange-tipped toy gun.

Now, Roseville police are putting out the word on the danger posed by toy and replica guns.

Here's what the police department recently submitted to the city's newsletter:

Toy guns, especially those made to resemble their more dangerous counterparts, can be just as dangerous as the real thing and have serious consequences.  

The Roseville Police Department has had a growing number of tense meetings with young people who have airsoft (replica) guns that look like real firearms. Toy guns, including airsoft guns, are required to have a bright orange tip; however, they can be extremely difficult to tell apart from real guns, especially at dusk.

Most people do not know the difference and assume they are real. Police have had cases where the replicaguns have been modified to make them look more real. And there have been times when real guns have been modified to falsely look like a toy gun. In late September a neighborhood was on alert and four people were arrested in St. Paul, after using modified airsoft guns while filming a movie.

The Police urge anyone using airsoft guns to do so away from the public eye where no one will mistake them for real guns. Also, make sure that everyone within view understands what you are playing with and what you are doing.

If a law enforcement officer approaches you while using airsoft guns, immediately set the gun down, then stand still and slowly put your empty hands up, eliminating the perceived threat to the officer.

Parents, please talk with your children about airsoft gun safety and the consequences of misusing replicaguns. Airsoft or any replica or toy guns are not allowed on school grounds and can be grounds for expulsion.

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