Replica guns 'put lives at risk'

 

 

The replica gun (right) is nearly identical to semi-automatic (left)

 

Lives are being put at risk by youngsters carrying imitation firearms, police have warned.

 

The warning follows a spate of incidents in recent weeks.

 

In Portsmouth, a police support Officer was shot at with a BB gun and two BB guns confiscated on Thursday looked like genuine weapons, said police.

 

Insp Gerry Kiernan said teenagers needed to realise that by carrying replica weapons they were putting themselves at risk.

'Extremely challenging'

Insp Kiernan said: "The problems that these weapons present are numerous.

 

"There is the potential for alarm to the public, and significantly, the drain on police resources that occurs when we are called to attend if such a weapon is sighted.

 

"Each firearms incident reported requires a minimum response of two armed response vehicles, including at least four authorised firearms officers, two police dogs and their handlers, an incident commander and local units required to attend, who are diverted from neighbourhood policing.

 

"Unless you pick the weapon up and inspect it, it can be virtually impossible to tell the difference between a replica and the real thing - and that can be extremely challenging for my officers to deal with."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5248390.stm

i had a airsoft m4, my friends in the army couldnt tel the difference in it til he held it and looked at it up close.