HB2160: Prohibition on the sale of imitation firearms (Update: passes committee)

Rep. Fred Allen (D-Little Rock) is beginning his presentation of HB2160 here in House Judiciary this morning, and all the tv stations are present. This matter has been on the legislature's radar ever since the grandson of Rep. Otis Davis (D-Earle) was present when his 12 year old friend was gunned down by West Memphis police, who mistook a toy watergun for being the real thing. Tennessee is also considering similar legislation.

We're going to hear testimony from Col. Winford Phillips with the Arkansas State Police (for the bill), Chuck Lange from the Arkansas Sheriffs Association (for the bill) and a story from a veteran from Iraq who fired on someone wielding an imitation firearm while overseas, killing three. I previously wrote that Wal-Mart had concerns about the bill, and those concerns have been met.

Update: Rep. Dawn Creekmore is questioning the sponsors on the fact that a prohibition on the sale doesn't mean that these guns won't still remain in toy boxes all across the state. Rep. Hobbs notes that the folks at Daisy BB gun manufacturing argue that waterguns could still be purchased in other states and brought here. Rep. Lindsley Smith notes that the bill contains exemptions for theatrical productions, etc., meaning that this simply regulates how the toy guns are marketed rather than prohinbiting the sale of them. Other exemptions include guns that are transparent or are of a color other than black, brown, blue, silver or metallic (or if ithas an orange plug).

Update II: The bill passed on a voice vote with two or three weak nays.