Toy Gun Ban Introduced on the
Federal Level
by Angel Shamaya
Founder/Director
KeepAndBearArms.com
January 31, 2001
|
Rep. Towns
|
U.S. Representative Edolphus
"Ed" Towns (D-NY, Brooklyn, Congressional District 10) has
introduced legislation to "ban toys which in size,
shape or overall appearance resemble real handguns." This is the same Ed
Towns who took a stand
that the Texas penal system shouldn't execute that poor black rapist and
murderer, Gary Graham, who was convicted of killing a citizen in cold blood but
lingered in the appeal process for 18 years. (Then Texas Governor Bush denied
poor Mr. Graham's pardon and they put
him to sleep -- 18 years too late.)
Ed Towns defends rapists and murderers while
also telling us we need to ban toys.
Let's do a quick Reality Check by looking at some numbers here for a
moment, for the record:
|
Accidental Death Rates
for Children (ages 0-14)
|
|
|
|
Cause
|
Number
|
|
Motor Vehicle |
3,059 |
|
Drowning |
1,060 |
|
Fires, burns |
833 |
|
Mechanical
Suffocation |
459 |
|
Ingestion of
Food or Object |
213 |
|
Firearms |
181 |
|
Figures
are for 1995. National Safety Council, Accident Facts: 1998 Edition, at
10, 11, 18. |
Considering how many children are dying as a
result of the improper use of cars, water, fire, suffocation, food and even real
guns -- and considering the fact that toy guns aren't mentioned there, at all --
one must wonder what Rep. Towns might be seeking to achieve. In fact, while we
do occasionally hear about a toy gun being misused and someone getting hurt, the
instances are so rare they often make national headlines -- because they are no
less than sensational.
I called Rep. Towns' offices to see if I could
get him on the phone and was told that "there is a process you must go
through to reach him." "Okay, great. Pretty please put me on the
phone with whoever I need to speak with so I can get a statement about the need
to ban toys." I was sent to another office, where I was allowed to leave a
message for Karen Johnson, presumably Ed's press secretary. I hope she calls
back to explain the dire need for a federal ban on toys. If she does, I'll print
their statements unedited.
Meanwhile, following is what looks like the
shortest bill ever to grace the Halls of Congress. Quite simple, really. Ban
toys. Read it for yourself below, and feel free to contact
your U.S. Representative to voice your opinion.
Text of the Toy Gun Ban
bill, as taken from:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.215:
(.pdf file here)
To require the Consumer Product Safety
Commission to ban toys which in size, shape, or overall appearance resemble real
handguns. (Introduced in the House)
