Don't let your kids play with toy guns...

[BushMasterBoy]

Another sad story here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24648974

[Chad4000]

Or at least tell your kids to drop the "weapon" when told. ..

[cstone]

Based on the photograph in the story, I would have believed it was a real AK. I hope there is some dash camera video. If the boy pointed the weapon at any of the officers, he could expect to be shot. I'm guessing the officers involved feel terrible that they took someone's life.

Tragic in many ways.

[anaphylaxis]

Wow. Bad situation for all involved. It looks real enough in the picture; hard to fault the officers for pulling the trigger.

I was told a similar story (with a better ending) by a local officer. A teenager was walking with another teenager with a realistic looking BB gun pointed at the 2nd teenagers head. The officer caught up to them, gave verbal commands which fortunately were followed without hesitation. If not, the officer was prepared to use the shotgun he had at the ready.

I'm not a fan of toy guns. IMHO, they encourage a lack of respect for real firearms with predictable consequences.

[buffalobo]

Wow, tough spot to be in for the officers.

+1 for cstone post.

[kwando]

I agree, my son has a squirt gun and I tell him to NEVER aim it at anyone. Gotta start him young.

[Gman]

I'm not a fan of toy guns. IMHO, they encourage a lack of respect for real firearms with predictable consequences.
...and having been a kid that played a lot with toy guns, I'd have to disagree. We played cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, etc. Nobody ever died and at most was 'shot in the shoulder'. Being a kid and having fun diving for cover is one thing. Graduating to real firearms and learning the respect for them is another.

We also had guidance from our parents about these types of issues with toy guns being mistaken as real, and our parents told us to drop them without hesitation if instructed. Toy guns didn't have orange tips when I was a kid.

[rondog]

Wow, very sad, but unfortunately very believable too. In today's world, you never know anymore. One reason why I won't OC. Educating kids is key, IMO. Started my grandson shooting when he was old enough, and now at 16 he hardly looks at guns unless we're going shooting.

[Dave_L]

I dont understand why they make bb/airsoft guns so realistic. I remember most toy guns in my childhood at least had orange tips. Not that you couldnt paint the tip but still. Tragic situation though. :(

[Ronin13]

Sad? Yes. Avoidable? Of course. The kid should have dropped the gun when told and announced it wasn't real. Unfortunately with recent shootings where the perpetrator is under 18, sometimes as young as 12 (NV), police have to consider even young juveniles a threat more so now than in years before. It's a scary world we're living in. And like some of you, my toy guns when growing up were very realistic, had orange tips, and it's not impossible to paint over, or in some cases, even remove the tip. Tragic situation indeed, but kids need to realize that toy or not, when a police officer tells you to put the gun down, you put the gun down. I hate to see kids die tragically and in this way, but I cannot in any way fault the officers for their actions.

[osok-308]

Sad? Yes. Avoidable? Of course. The kid should have dropped the gun when told and announced it wasn't real. Unfortunately with recent shootings where the perpetrator is under 18, sometimes as young as 12 (NV), police have to consider even young juveniles a threat more so now than in years before. It's a scary world we're living in. And like some of you, my toy guns when growing up were very realistic, had orange tips, and it's not impossible to paint over, or in some cases, even remove the tip. Tragic situation indeed, but kids need to realize that toy or not, when a police officer tells you to put the gun down, you put the gun down. I hate to see kids die tragically and in this way, but I cannot in any way fault the officers for their actions.

+1. It's going to be a much different world when I raise kids than when I was raised. I did grow up playing airsoft with real looking toys (just sold my Echo1 AK). But I also can assure you that I didn't ever try to walk around brandishing it either. It's sad that anyone lost life, but from these officer's standpoint, they did what they thought they had to. It doesn't seem to me that these were the kind of police that you hear about that are shooting people's dogs or anything. Bad situation all around.

[BushMasterBoy]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/26/andy-lopez-shooting_n_4165838.html

[cstone]

More than 20 years ago when I was in uniform back east, the people I most feared were the 13 and 14 year old males. Most of the areas I patrolled were run by one crew or another and the "kids" were all armed, mostly drunk or drugged and they didn't have any clue about consequences. At night, with a jacket or hoodie, most 14 year olds look just like 20 year olds. Until you see their face, it was difficult to gage someone's age. 8 year olds can easily point a gun and pull the trigger.

I can't say I've ever met a cop who was happy to have killed someone. I wouldn't call that a scientific survey, but it leads me to believe that most cops are not trigger happy, itching to kill someone.

[Kmanbay]

It is a total catch 22 situation, and they made the best possible decision based on the information they had gathered in the few seconds before they fired.

If the cops were wrong and it WAS an AK then they would have been outgunned and possibly dead. Car doors are no match for bullets.

My prayers go out to all involved.

[Ridge]

More like don't let your kid wander the streets with this toy gun:

http://i.imgur.com/o3dJIIg.jpg

[Chaplain America]

Heartbreaking, no matter one's opinion on the matter. I wouldn't let my kids have a toy that looked that real, but alas, the boy who's dead didn't even own the toy.

[Ronin13]

It is a total catch 22 situation, and they made the best possible decision based on the information they had gathered in the few seconds before they fired.

If the cops were wrong and it WAS an AK then they would have been outgunned and possibly dead. Car doors and Kevlar vests are no match for rifle bullets.

My prayers go out to all involved.
FTFY. Car door or not, if it was real they'd be in a real scary situation.

[alxone]

More than 20 years ago when I was in uniform back east, the people I most feared were the 13 and 14 year old males. Most of the areas I patrolled were run by one crew or another and the "kids" were all armed, mostly drunk or drugged and they didn't have any clue about consequences. At night, with a jacket or hoodie, most 14 year olds look just like 20 year olds. Until you see their face, it was difficult to gage someone's age. 8 year olds can easily point a gun and pull the trigger.

I can't say I've ever met a cop who was happy to have killed someone. I wouldn't call that a scientific survey, but it leads me to believe that most cops are not trigger happy, itching to kill someone.
^^^this^^^
cstone spot on , back in b-more its not the adults that are the problem its the kids . watch the wire some time , that show is pretty true to life