{"id":47915,"date":"2015-11-11T10:40:05","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T15:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=47915"},"modified":"2015-11-11T10:40:05","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T15:50:52","slug":"boston-bans-guns-toy-guns-that-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/boston-bans-guns-toy-guns-that-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Boston Bans Guns\u2026 Toy Guns, That is"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Look<\/a>

Look at them, so proud of themselves for “making a difference.” Ugh. (Photo: Mayor Walsh<\/em>)<\/p><\/div>\n

The city of Boston has decided to ban replica guns in public spaces. Apparently, city leaders believe toy guns pose a risk to public safety, even when they\u2019re in the hands of children.<\/p>\n

“It is up to us to work together as a community on every angle of the gun issue to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Boston Mayor Martin Walsh in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The safety of Boston’s residents and visitors is a top priority, and I am proud to sign this ordinance banning replica handguns in public spaces which will help us in our larger mission of raising community awareness and engagement to remove replica firearms from the hands of our youth,\u201d continued Walsh.<\/p>\n

The ordinance will allow police to confiscate any toy gun they see in public. Individuals caught with the prohibited toy may be able to get their property back by picking it up at the district station. Minors caught with toy guns will have to have a parent or guardian pick it up at the station.<\/p>\n

“Replica guns have become a big issue for us. We all too often encounter young people who are carrying these fake guns and even though they are fake, the public and police don’t know they are,” said Commissioner William B. Evans. “Our goal is to make the city the safest place it can be and this ordinance will help remind the public and residents of the dangers these replica guns present.”<\/p>\n

Over the years, the Boston Police Department claims that it has recovered more than 150 replica handguns used in connection with crimes. Authorities did not delineate the details of the crimes committed with the toy guns.<\/p>\n

“They call these gun toys, but they are not toys when put in the wrong hands and used to commit crimes,” said District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker. “I see very few reasons for anyone to buy a replica handgun. We have seen too many violent incidents this year and this ordinance is one step toward ensuring the safety of our communities.”<\/p>\n

Ah, there it is. Another nanny-state politician telling citizens what they need or don\u2019t need based on his personal views. We\u2019ve heard that same illogical claptrap when talking about modern sporting rifles as well, e.g. \u201cI see very few reasons for anyone to buy an AR-15.\u201d<\/p>\n

Essentially, what Baker and Mayor Walsh and Commissioner Evans are doing is trampling personal freedom in the name of public safety. This type of thinking amongst those in power is not only contagious but extremely dangerous because it leads to the proverbial slippery slope. It starts with, I see very few reasons for anyone to buy: a \u201creplica gun\u201d or an \u201cAR-15\u201d; then soon it will be a \u201chandgun,\u201d and inevitably \u201cany firearm.\u201d<\/p>\n

I guess I say this a lot, but public safety as defined and curated by a government is a myth. One\u2019s safety is one\u2019s responsibility \u2014 not the government\u2019s. A public is safe when individuals are prepared to deal with and confront threats.<\/p>\n

However, public safety has been perverted to mean a government\u2019s relative control over citizens. The more control and power the government has, the more \u201csafe\u201d it claims citizens are, which is absurd, as every government initiative to increase public safety, i.e. restrict liberties and personal choices, indubitably makes individuals less free and more vulnerable as they are more dependent on government for their protection. As we all know, when seconds count, police are minutes away.<\/p>\n