LAPPL URGES CITY COUNCILTO RECONSIDER PROPOSED CITY LAW ON BB GUNS

If an officer hesitated with any brightly-colored deadly weapons pointed at them, it could cost his or her life

Los Angeles Police Protective League
August 9, 2013

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Police Protective League today called a move by the Los Angeles City Council “ill-advised and dangerous,” as the proposed law would require BB guns, pellet guns and airsoft rifles to be painted a bright color to differentiate them from real weapons.

President Tyler Izen called on the City Council to reconsider its 14-1 vote on Wednesday that directed the City Attorney to draft the measure that would apply only in the City of Los Angeles.

“This is a horrible idea that may cause officers to hesitate when confronted with a colored rifle when we already know that fully operable handguns and rifles have been painted bright colors,” said Izen. “The law is designed to create doubt in an officer’s mind. If they hesitate they could be killed.” Moreover, he said such legislation could give a false sense of security to parents who provide their children with products that replicate the look of a rifle but are toys. A law to require better warning labels on these products or a law that would hold parents responsible for the improper use of such toys would be a far more effective means of preventing tragedies.

Izen said a number of websites promote the after-market painting of real guns in any color desired. In fact, one of LAPD’s command officers has a personal bright pink rifle. Thus, he said, coloring toy guns, BB guns or airsoft guns is not a rational solution to preventing shooting tragedies, and he offered that educating the public in how to be responsible with them, especially parents and young people in our communities who have the “toys,” would be more helpful.

Izen noted that the lone vote against the proposal came from Bernard Parks, who served as Los Angeles Chief of Police prior to being elected to the City Council. Parks questioned if the measure would offer a false sense of security to officers and would instead put their lives at risk.

“The City Council should give considerable weight to the law enforcement experience and expertise of one of its members on matters of this nature,” Izen said. “He knows from firsthand, real-world experience of what he speaks.”