Police Concerned About Cell Phone Case That Looks Like Gun
BOSTON (CBS) – It's a case meant to protect your cellphone, but it's being called a death trap.
It's a new iPhone case that's shaped like the grip of a handgun, and police departments are already wary of the novelty item.
"For any officer who sees this they're going to assume it's a real handgun," said Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker.
They are easily available online advertised as a "cool" case.
A website which sells the cases advertises them as accessories that can transform your iPhone into a handgun, including an app for games like Russian roulette.
"Don't worry, you can't actually shoot anyone," the website description reads.
But just looking at the advertised picture already raises alarms.
"If you see someone walking with a fake gun you're going to think it's threatening," said Josh Dion.
Apotheker says officers make split second decisions everyday against perceived threats.
Gun control advocates say this case raises the stakes.
"Somebody, a police officer, or somebody else thinks you're armed, the first thing they're going to do is protect themselves and somebody is going to get killed," said Jerry Belair of Stop Handgun Violence.
In addition to concern it looks like the butt of a gun protruding from a pocket, users frequently reach for phones hundreds of times a day.
"If somebody goes into a local business, and somebody comes in with the butt of a gun in the pocket, we're going to get a call," said Apotheker. "We're going to go in there with a heightened sense of awareness."
Already there are calls for the cases to be banned from being sold on the internet.
Boston police say they have not yet seen the cases on the streets, but in New York City, lawmakers are being asked to prohibit the sale.
