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Speak Up! Memphis

Possible Toy Gun Ban in West Memphis, Arkansas

West Memphis city leaders met Thursday, February 21, to discuss a ban on real-looking toy guns.

The topic of the toy gun ban comes after the June 2007 shooting of DeAunta Farrow, a 12 year-old boy who was shot to death by a West Memphis police officer who told investigators that he believed Farrow was holding a gun. Investigators later revealed the gun was a toy.

The proposed ordinance would ban all toy guns without an orange tip and would also restrict the use of toy guns with orange tips to 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The proposed ordinance would also ban toy guns and knives in West Memphis schools. The Deputy Superintendent of West Memphis schools says currently, there is no such ban on toy weapons in the school district. He says the district will not change school policy until it believes toy weapons are a problem.

What do you think? It's your turn to Speak Up! Memphis.

Published Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:00 PM by APhillips

Comments

 

masick said:

As a future parent, I see nothing wrong with banning toy guns. Toy guns shouldn't look so real. These days you don't know if a gun is a toy or not. It was tragic what happened to DeAunta. If he hadn't had that toy gun, maybe it could have been avoided. If someone has what appears to be a gun, I am automatically going to assume it IS a gun, and fear for my life.

Also, I think it is irresponsible of parents to allow their children to possess something like that anyway.
February 21, 2008 5:16 PM
 

citysucs said:

why ban toy guns? because parents are to lazy to raise their children so they must find an escape goat! sad people really sad, its time for people over in west memphis to start pointing the finger at themselves
February 21, 2008 6:08 PM
 

Catgirl said:

I think it's a good idea to ban them. The "newest" trend is now to paint real guns and make them look like toy guns.

Officers are going to have to assume that ALL guns are real now, no matter what.

So, to protect the children, it is probably a good idea to do away with toy guns so no mistake can be made. I for one, would not fault the police if they mistook a toy for real.  When seconds count and mean life/death for all parties, we need to do what we can to take away the need to figure out if a gun is real/toy.

When we were kids, we were taught not to even point a TOY gun at anyone. We were taught respect for ALL guns.

February 22, 2008 9:14 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

I didn't know that people were painting real guns to look fake.  How scary!  A cop doesn't stand a chance.  A split second decision doesn't leave time to discern whether a gun is real or fake.  

Catgirl you are right, we were taught never to point a gun, real or fake, at anyome.  Parents are too lazy or two apathetic to care what their kids are doing.  
February 22, 2008 9:25 AM
 

AMBER85 said:

If if saves lives then im all for it!!!  If the parents arent going to be responsible then someone has to do it nobody can force someone to be a good parent so if the law has to ban toy guns to save lives of all parties then so be it!
February 22, 2008 9:55 AM
 

JmeYoung said:

Why should the government get to control what we can and cannont let our children play with? Why? Because for some reason people can not teach their children the correct way to act. My father was an avid hunter, and taught us never to point a weapon at something unless you're intent was to kill it. My son shot his first rifle at the age of FOUR. With my fathers help, on a rifle range. And yet he has never ever pointed a weapon at anyone. It seems like all this ban does is once again say, "hey, you don't want to pay attention to your kids and teach the proper respect and rules, its okay, we'll just take something away from everyone."

And maybe you can't "force" someone to be a good parent, but if they can send you to jail for your child's absences from school, you would think they would hold you responsible for a child's more serious actions.
February 22, 2008 11:11 AM
 

citysucs said:

have you seen the real guns painted pink with the "hello kitty" emblem on it? so now if a cop does shoot a kid with a toy gun (no matter the race, cause we all know that will play a factor in this racist city) that cop will be crucified, just as the W. Memphis officer was. its time to back our police and i mean get vocal with it, i don't know how they do it. God bless em'
February 22, 2008 11:11 AM
 

Catgirl said:

http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=7908562
February 22, 2008 11:12 AM
 

citysucs said:

exactly my point
February 22, 2008 11:22 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

JME....of course what you are saying is right, but would you like to take that chance if it was your own family member having to deal with a gun being pointed at them?  This is similar to the seat belt controversy.  We ALL have to wear them or risk a ticket/fine.  Maybe there are people who resent having their rights infringed on....yak yak yak....however, for the greater good, it's now a law.  Frankly, given the times in which we live, I would rather see the gun ban than argue about whether or not it's a good idea.  
February 22, 2008 12:43 PM
 

WWSD00 said:

why do we even have a need for toy guns?... Oh yeah, we have to keep the tradition going, nevermind...
February 22, 2008 12:51 PM
 

gmoney2u said:

Being a parent of a ten yr old boy I have no problem with the toy gun ban because I never allowed my son to play or bought a toy gun for him, nor do I accept them as gifts for him! No he is'nt allowed to play teen rated video games either so before some of you knockleheads assume that let me cut you off right now!!
February 22, 2008 4:09 PM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Gmoney, why would anyone assume anything about what you do, or do not, allow your child to play with?  That was a rather inane statement.  
February 22, 2008 4:51 PM
 

gmoney2u said:

@mnshadow53 I was talking to the knuckleheads and not those with common sense!!! So if I struck a nerve with you, well you call it!!
February 26, 2008 7:17 AM
 

Catgirl said:

Gmoney- I THINK Shadow was actually trying to pay you a compliment.

She does not assume that you do dumb/irresponsible parental things like letting your child play with inappropriate toys. She was giving you credit (and the benefit of the doubt) for being a good parent.





February 26, 2008 9:02 AM
 

mnshadow53 said:

Well, no good deed goes unpunished.....so who really is the knucklehead here....and who really has had a raw nerve struck? Gmoney, you are so sensitive and defensive!  Why would you even bring up what you allow your child to play with or not play with concerning video games?  That was not on topic.  The topic was toy guns.  
February 26, 2008 9:45 AM
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