Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
South Jordan may soon be saying good-bye to fake firearms. The city council will vote tomorrow on whether to restrict the use of fake guns on public property. Some say it needs to be done before someone gets hurt, but critics are worried the measure goes too far.
The .40-caliber pistol is a powerful gun used by professionals and criminals. But a plastic air gun is so similar South Jordan is considering banning the toy from all public spaces.
South Jordan police Lt. Dan Starks says the similar markings include everything "from the graveled handles to the vented rib up here on the slide, the indentations, the markings, the triggers, the trigger guard, some of the gouges in the undercarriage on the piece with the slide."
The proposed ordinance would limit the use of these replicas to private property or places where permission is given, like a shooting range.
"We feel that's a fair compromise, and it's our role to make sure that we balance the risk imposed upon our community against the desires of the community. And we feel like this is a good compromise," said Ricky Horst, South Jordan city manager.
A first time offender would receive a warning. Then on the third offense they would be fined.
Horst says it's all about public awareness and preventing dangerous situations with law enforcement.
"Obviously, police are trained for situations like that, but we treat them as if they were a true weapon and then work ourselves backwards, making sure we're safe, they're safe and everyone else would be safe with dealing with a situation like this," Starks said.
Ordinances similar to this one have already passed in cities like Salt Lake, Bountiful, Clearfield and Centerville. Those cities only permit those guns at approved shooting ranges.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
