Should ‘replica’ guns be marked?

The fatal shooting by Beavercreek police of a 22-year-old man reportedly holding a “rifle” inside a Walmart store Tuesday was the second officer-involved shooting incident in the United States in the past 4 months that involved a “replica” gun.

In Tuesday’s case, authorities later determined the weapon was an MK-177, .177 caliber BB/pellet rifle manufactured by Grossman and sold at Walmart.

Federal law requires that toy guns have bright orange permanent markings — a measure to help distinguish them from real guns. But “variable pump air rifles,” like the one involved in Tuesday’s shooting, are not categorized as toys and therefore are not required to have colored markings.

At retail stores, BB/pellet guns are not locked inside glass cases with real firearms and other weapons, but displayed on shelves and easily accessible by consumers.

Should laws or store policies be changed? Email Connie.Post@coxinc.com

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