Get these guns off out streets (From Barry And District News)

Get these guns off out streets

A BARRY councillor is calling for a total ban on replica and so-called 'BB guns'.

Labour's Rob Curtis said he was alarmed to discover how easily available the weapons are.

He said: "I was approached by a trader on Barry Island who told me that children as young as 12 are trying to obtain 'BB guns' and, in some cases, succeeding.

More worryingly though is the fact that youngsters of 14 can legally own them."

The guns look frighteningly real and can shoot small pellets at a high velocity. If they are fired at close range they can tear the skin and cause nasty injuries.

Cllr Rob Curtis added: "In the wrong hands, these guns can look very much like the real thing and could potentially cause a panic."

Determined to hammer home his point, Cllr Rob Curtis is not content with asking traders to be responsible.

He said: "I'm going to write to the Vale council's Trading Standards department and urge them to take a tougher line on any irresponsible shops caught selling these replica guns to under-age children.

"But I'm also asking Vale MP John Smith to support a total ban on the weapons and to request that all toy guns are painted in bright colours and are made clearly identifiable as toys."

Seventeen-year-old Labour Party member Jessie Cheek added: "These replica guns could cause a nightmare for police if they get a barrage of telephone calls from residents seeing them and believing them to be real.

In the hands of gangs of teenagers, they can look very threatening.

"The Government is bringing in tough new laws to jail people caught in possession of a handgun without a licence.

They should also address the replica gun problem and issue a total ban."