Daily Talker: Calls To Ban Toy Guns

There are new calls today in Boston to ban toy guns following a close call with police on Tuesday.

A 911 caller reported a person with a gun at 7 p.m. in South Boston's Sweeney Playground, where officers observed four young men standing together.

Police said one of the men appeared to pull a black handgun from his waistband, "paused for a moment and then dropped it on the ground" as officers approached.

After confiscating the gun, police figured out that it was a BB gun designed to resemble a Berretta PX4 Storm .40 caliber handgun.

The young men were released from custody, but police said they spoke to them about the danger of carrying a real-looking gun.

"When we talk about the dangers created when a kid picks up a replica firearm, these are the incidents we're talking about," Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said in a statement. "Thankfully, my officers showed tremendous restraint and – because of that – we were able to turn what could have been a tragedy into a teaching moment."

Several local clergy members are scheduled to hold a news conference today to call on retailers and manufacturers to stop selling the toy guns.  They will also call on parents to make sure the fake firearms stay out of children's hands.

Do you think there should be a ban on toy guns given the recent safety concerns from police?

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