State Lawmakers Aim To Ban Cell Phone Cases That Looks Like Guns

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The same week concerns were raised about a gun being manufactured in Minnesota that looks like a cell phone, lawmakers want to ban a cell phone case that looks like a gun.

Officials say thousands of the cell cases have been bought by people in Minnesota. Police fear the case could be mistaken for a gun, putting the community at risk. And that's why legislators are pushing to make them illegal in Minnesota.

"This is about the dumbest thing I've ever seen," Rep. Joe Atkins said.

Atikins calls the cell phone cases that resemble guns, unnecessarily dangerous.

"Picture a teenager carrying one of these things, pulling it out of his back pocket, it looks immediately like a gun," Atkins said.

Atkins authored the bill to outlaw the manufacture, sale and possession of the cases. He, along with Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell, testified before the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

"This cell phone case creates an utterly no win situation for us," Schnell said.

Schnell spoke about the risk on behalf of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.

"The worst case scenario is the potential loss of life when an officer finds him or herself in the position of having to make that split second decision often times under high stress conditions," Schnell said.

Beyond the inherent danger, Schnell believes the case will result in more calls for service, and a tax on time and resources. Members of the committee agreed, the cases have no place in Minnesota.

New concerns arose this week about Minnesota company, Ideal Conceal, manufacturing a 380 caliber handgun that unfolds from a smart phone shape to a fully functional weapon.

But for now, it's the cell cases that lawmakers are focused on.

"I understand the novelty. But the danger simply does not, does not bear out the risk," Schnell said.

If passed, it would be a petty misdemeanor to own, sell or manufacture the cell phone gun case. That comes with a fine up to $300.