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Gainesville Police: Use Toy Guns On Halloween Wisely, Or Just Don't Use Them

Carrying a toy gun on Halloween could prove dangerous.

GPD spokesman Ben Tobias said the decision to carry a toy gun is not one to be taken lightly.

“Police officers are always on guard, especially with the increase in gun violence,” Tobias said. “It is extremely difficult in a split second for an officer to tell the difference between a real gun and a fake one.”

Brittney Spicer, a mother of two toddlers, said kids don’t care about the details and just want to have fun.

“They don’t care if it’s a little alien blaster that doesn’t look real at all and makes funny sounds and lights up,” Spicer said. “There’s no reason for them to look real.”

Tobias said if you do decide to carry a toy gun, be sure to make it look as fake as possible, especially by using an orange tip.

He said there are both federal and state penalties for modifying a gun to look realistic.

“Choose your Halloween costume wisely,” Tobias said. “Use common sense and know that we don’t know who you are.”

Elise is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
Casey is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.