It's Easier Than Thinking!

It's incredibly short-sighted stupidity, but not from MA. Sent in by Stretch:

Toy Guns Becoming A Criminal Offense?

DETROIT (WWJ) – State lawmakers are currently reviewing legislation that targets the use of certain toy guns. A planned proposal before the Senate would make it a crime to possess a toy gun that has its required markings removed or by having a real gun that is made up to look like a toy.

State Senate Republican Rick Jones said that this has become a major problem, especially within the gang community. “People are taking imitation firearms that look real, cutting off the orange end and then threatening people,” he said.

I've got a crazy idea. Rather than criminalizing the toyification (I just made that up!) of a gun or the detoyification (see!) of a toy gun, why not just punish the damn criminals? I mean, I know holding people responsible for their actions is so last century and all, but by turning the focus to the piece of plastic being used (or the toy) instead of the person wielding it, we're taking the responsibility away from the criminal yet again - it's not their fault, it's that darn plastic toy!

The incredibly faulty logic here is that children have been shot by police officers who mistook the toy guns for real, so all toy firearms should have certain features defining them as toys. The problem with this, of course, is that you have cases where wallets, cell phones, etc. are also mistaken for guns - because it's the action of the person confronting the police rather than the object being held.

But yeah, make it a crime to have a toy gun without markings - that'll stop criminals alright!

That is all.