Ohio legislators are considering a bill that would require toy guns only be sold in bright colors to help distinguish them from real ones. But it seems some criminals might try using that to their advantage.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responding to a call about a man with a weapon located the suspect with a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
A picture of the weapon shows it's been painted red to look like a toy gun.
The suspect was also carrying 9 grams of crack cocaine.
In a statement, Sheriff Jim Neil says he's not stepping into then national debate over real and toy guns... but wants people to know things like this are happening.
"What we’re here to do is share facts, and the fact is right here in Hamilton County we arrested a dangerous individual who we believe purposefully painted a loaded handgun red to mislead law enforcement into thinking this was a toy gun," says Neil. "That is a scary thought, and it brings up obvious concerns for the safety of our deputies, and the safety of the public at large.”
