Clergy Members Urge Boston Community BB Guns 'Can Get Your Child Killed'
BOSTON (CBS) – It was the clarion call from Boston clergy, mobilizing the community to get fake guns off the streets.
"This gun can get your child killed," said Rev. Mark Scott.
Last year alone Boston police confiscated 250 of the replicas and 100 more have been seized so far this year.
"You are taking your life in your hands when you have a gun like this," said Dr. Jacqueline Rivers of Harvard's Seymour Institute. "Nobody knows that it's not real."
Police officers make split second decisions against perceived threats and say these fakes raise the stakes.
"It's our worst fear that an officer will encounter someone with one of these," said Boston police Deputy Superintendent Joseph Harris. "If they think they are in imminent danger of bodily harm they could use deadly force."
It happened just last week in Brockton where police shot and killed 45-year-old Douglas Buckley, who allegedly threatened them with a BB gun.
In Cleveland last year, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by an officer as he showed a toy gun.
"We have had close calls in the city already. We don't want to see it happen in the city of Boston," said Rev. Scott.
The call today was aimed at parents to take control of these life-like toys, and at manufacturers to stop the make and sale.
But advocates admit that part of the equation will be the most difficult.
"We can hold people more accountable. For everything we do there is an action and a reaction," said State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry.
There were also calls for legislation to ban the toy guns, but clergy members hope the most immediate response will come from the community.