NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Lawmakers from 15 states are setting
their sights on toy guns.
Worries that plastic guns look too much like the real thing and
are confusing police have spurred on the legislation. According to
the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven bills limiting
fake guns are pending this year and 21 have been passed since 1990.
Federal law requires toy guns or imitations to be orange-tipped.
But for some lawmakers, that doesn't go far enough since it's easy
to paint over the orange.
Tennessee lawmakers are considering a proposal to make it a
misdemeanor to intentionally and threateningly display or expose an
imitation firearm in a threatening manner.
The lawmaker behind the bill says he wants to avoid incidents
like one last year in Arkansas, when a 12-year-old boy wielding a
toy gun was shot and killed by police.
The National Rifle Association says such legislation is
"silly" because "it doesn't deal with issues of crime."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)