Police scold Penticton pub owner for using imitation firearm to protect his property

A friendly reminder from Penticton RCMP that waving a gun is never a good idea — even if it’s a replica.

The warning stems from an incident Monday in Penticton where RCMP were responding to a reported break-in at Anthony’s Pub, located on Skaha Lake Road.

According to the RCMP, the owner of the pub called police after several people tried to break in to his establishment.

“While police were en route, a witness also called 911 reporting a man waving around a handgun in the same area. Upon police arriving, the proprietor of the pub was located nearby in the possession of, what was later confirmed, an airsoft handgun. The gun was subsequently seized by the officer,” Penticton Const. James Grandy said in a news release.

He said the owner believed he had the right to use an imitation firearm to protect his property.

“It was explained at the scene to the owner of the pub that yielding an imitation firearm is not appropriate, and, in this case, took police away from investigating the original complaint,” Grandy said.

Grandy adds that using an imitation firearm in the commission of an offence carries the same penalty as using a real firearm.