Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 3, 2019 02:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Angel Cruz |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Sale of Toy or Imitation Firearms |
| In 2014, 12 year old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by Cleveland police when the toy gun he was holding was mistaken for a real firearm. Current law in Pennsylvania allows for the sale of very real-looking toy guns, many of which possess no distinguishing factors such as bright colored tips. The determination as to whether a gun is real or fake needs to be made in most instances within a split second, especially in situations when one is considering whether to defend themselves against a threat. Toy or imitation firearms must be easily distinguished from real ones to prevent devastating consequences. In Philadelphia alone, at least 17 people carrying toy or imitation firearms were shot by police between 2007 and 2016. At least 12 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and numerous large cities throughout the United States have enacted legislation restricting the sale or use of toy and imitation firearms. It only makes sense for Pennsylvania to do the same, so I am introducing legislation to prohibit the sale of toy or imitation firearms, unless it is constructed in such a way that it can be clearly distinguished from a real firearm. I ask that you join me by co-sponsoring this bill and I thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925. |
Introduced as HB204