Re: “Police arrest man who allegedly had toy gun on UW campus” [Nov. 25, Local News]:
We at Grandmothers In opposition to Gun Violence are relieved that the police arrested this man earlier than a tragedy occurred. Toy weapons look dangerously much like actual weapons. Unable to obviously distinguish between them, police and others turn out to be burdened, make assumptions, and should attain for actual firearms. Bear in mind 12-year-old Tamir Rice. Just lately, his loss of life on 22 November 2014, below these very circumstances, was commemorated.
Weapons should not toys. Toys should not weapons. Final 12 months, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed laws to strengthen restrictions on “imitation weapons.” Let’s hope Washington does the identical.
Within the meantime, do not buy toy weapons in your youngsters and grandkids this vacation season. It could actually all go improper.
Margaret Heldring, Seattle
