“The last thing Jordan Baylon wants is a fake pink gun,” pressherald.com opines. “Baylon, 22, spends much of his free time dressed in camouflage fighting simulated battles against like-minded fantasy warriors. The custom-made airsoft gun he uses to fire small plastic projectiles during the fights is an imposing metal object – a near exact replica of a M4 rifle.” Nice lead but who gives a damn about Airsofter Jordan Baylon’s aversion to pink? The problem with California’s Imitation Firearms Safety Act (SB 199, mandating that replica guns be painted “pink, red or another bright color”) . . .
is that it will do the exact opposite of what its supporter said it will do. Police officers will be at more risk because of it, not less. But don’t take my word for it . . .
Opponents of the new regulations – a group largely composed of police unions, manufacturers and gun-rights advocates – argue the law will do little to prevent mistaken shootings and could actually make things more confusing for an officers who must make split-second decisions whether to fire or not. . .
“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,” then-union president Tyler Izen said in August 2013, pointing to a number of pink rifles on the market. “The law is designed to create doubt in an officer’s mind. If they hesitate, they could be killed.”
The union recently affirmed its opposition to the law. “Our officers have to assume that any weapon, regardless of the color, is fully loaded and capable of shooting live rounds,” President Craig Lally said, adding, “the very last thing we need is for officers to have a false sense of safety.”
In other words, officers have to obey the four safety rules: treat all guns as if they were loaded. And why not? All a criminal has to do to create a moment of indecision is spray paint their black gat a lurid color. Or just use a brightly colored gun, which are out there, somewhere.
Meanwhile, Airsoft enthusiasts will have to have their guns done-up like a whorehouse both post and prior to sale. Like this:
(A) If the airsoft gun is configured as a handgun, in addition to the blaze orange ring on the barrel required by federal law, the airsoft gun has a trigger guard that has fluorescent coloration over the entire guard, and there is a two centimeter wide adhesive band around the circumference of the protruding pistol grip that has fluorescent coloration.
(B) If the airsoft gun is configured as a rifle or long gun, in addition to the blaze orange ring on the barrel required by federal law, the airsoft gun has a trigger guard that has fluorescent coloration over the entire guard, and there is a two centimeter wide adhesive band with fluorescent coloring around the circumference of any two of the following:
(i) The protruding pistol grip.
(ii) The buttstock.
(iii) A protruding ammunition magazine or clip.
Clip! Ha! Question: who in their right mind supported this bill in the first place?
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and the law’s author, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, reject such arguments, saying the law’s coloration requirement will help officers determine fake from real.
So LA’s top cop – a political appointee – and Mr. Ghost Gun himself were the driving forces behind the Imitation Firearms Safety Act. Not to mention all the legislators who voted for it and the governor who signed it. Because guns.
Also because gun control laws fly in the face of common sense. And when common sense goes out the window, absurdity comes flying in. This law should be repealed – even if doing so saves just one life. Know what I mean?