Lookalike Weapons

I recently read ABC News’s article written by Dan Sewell and Mark Gillispie called “Ohio Deaths Renew Calls for Lookalike Guns Action”. The article highlights cases where young people wielding lookalike air a pellet guns have been mistakenly slain by police officers assuming the weapons to be real. The author has thoroughly done their research listing past cases and questions the effectiveness of laws created to prevent such occurrences. The law stating the toys must be brightly painted is questioned by the author even providing a quote from a sheriff stating the juveniles will most likely paint over these distinguishing markings. The author then argues that criminals could to the reverse to real weapons leading police to believe that they are in no real danger. The author describes creating firmer cleverer laws regarding distinguishing these toy gun between real weapons might help reduce the deaths involving misconceptions of this nature. I agree with the author in saying that firmer new laws might help this issue but I also the police actions were responding to seemingly real threat and that their actions where just for us non telepathic humans.