On August 26 the California Assembly passed SB199, requiring fake guns to be brightly painted so police know they are not real if a kid or a criminal points one at them.
SB199 was born in the wake of the October 23 shooting in which Breitbart News reported that Santa Rosa, CA, police shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez after he refuse to drop a gun that turned out to be a replica.
According to SFGate, SB199 “was introduced by [state] senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles).” It has the support of assemblyman Mark Levine (D-Rafael), who says, “Horrific things happen when a toy gun is confused for the real thing.”
Opponents of the measure argue that SB199 could endanger police officers by opening the door for criminals to paint their real guns brightly, in attempt to give the impression that they are toys.
For example, former Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) said, “Paint is not the solution.” He said, “Paint leads to a situation where people who we don’t think should have guns in the first place can go and paint the gun they have.”
SB199 now returns to the state senate.
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