Toy guns can create a real threat

On March 2nd, Regina Police were called to Sheldon Williams Collegiate to investigate a report of a man and small child pointing guns at cars and each other.  After investigation, the guns were identified as toys but were treated as a real threat until that point. 

Toy guns have been around for decades but with models becoming more realistic, they can look like more than just a toy.  Canadian Tire Manager, Wade Cunningham, says, “They are pretty real. They are very close, especially the BB guns because they are black in color as well as full metal, so they can be mistaken pretty easily” 

Even close-up, these fake guns looks very real.  On certain models, the only way to tell the difference is the clear plastic trigger sections or a different colored tip at the end of the barrel. 

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Stores like Canadian Tire realize the possible threat and keep the guns under lock and key. Cunningham says they also have strict policies, “We’ll only sell them to people 18 years of age or older, otherwise if it a child, they must be accompanied by an adult.” 

For Police, the minor differences mean extra precaution.  

Elizabeth Popowich with Regina Police Service says, “We have to make an assessment of the danger to public and until we know otherwise…we have to treat that weapon as if it is real and so our response is one of extreme caution” 

Popowich also warns using a fake gun does not lessen any charges. “There are people who will use imitations in the commission of a criminal code offence. The law treats it as if it is a real weapon as well, so the consequences of using of an imitation firearm in a robbery, are the same. It’s an armed robbery.” 

Police says if you witness a situation where you believe a fire arm is real, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. “We would rather go and investigate than to have made an error on the other side and have the consequences be much more serious.”