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Walmart and other large retailers to stop selling realistic toy guns in New York Walmart and other large retailers to stop selling realistic toy guns in New York
(35 minutes later)
Several New York retailers, including Walmart, Sears and Amazon, have agreed to remove realistic toy guns from their shelves and pay $300,000 in penalties as part of a settlement with the state.Several New York retailers, including Walmart, Sears and Amazon, have agreed to remove realistic toy guns from their shelves and pay $300,000 in penalties as part of a settlement with the state.
State attorney general Eric Schneiderman announced on Monday that his office had found over 6,400 toy guns sold from 2012 to 2014 that violated preexisting New York laws, which ban the sale of black, blue, silver, or aluminum toy guns. Instead, these must be brightly colored or translucent. The state attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, announced on Monday that his office had found more than 6,400 toy guns sold from 2012 to 2014 that violated preexisting New York laws, which ban the sale of black, blue, silver, or aluminum toy guns. Instead, these must be brightly colored or translucent.
“There have been instances in states around the country in which police officers have mistaken toy guns for actual guns,” Schneiderman said in an interview with the New York Times. “It’s an absolutely unnecessary risk, because toy guns, as New York law requires, can be easily distinguishable.”“There have been instances in states around the country in which police officers have mistaken toy guns for actual guns,” Schneiderman said in an interview with the New York Times. “It’s an absolutely unnecessary risk, because toy guns, as New York law requires, can be easily distinguishable.”
Following the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in November, when an officer in Cleveland mistook his toy gun for a real one, pressure to regulate toy guns has increased.Following the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in November, when an officer in Cleveland mistook his toy gun for a real one, pressure to regulate toy guns has increased.
Schneiderman’s said that more restrictive toy gun laws are meant to do two things: decrease the number of crimes that involve toy guns and help eliminate mistakes by the police in situations involving the toys. His office said that since 1994, there had been at least 63 shootings in New York state, eight ending in fatalities, because of toy guns. Schneiderman said that more restrictive toy gun laws are meant to do two things: decrease the number of crimes that involve toy guns and help eliminate mistakes by the police in situations involving the toys. His office said that since 1994, there had been at least 63 shootings in New York state, eight ending in fatalities, because of toy guns.
Walmart did not sell any illegal toy guns in its stores but 149 were purchased through its website by customers in New York.Walmart did not sell any illegal toy guns in its stores but 149 were purchased through its website by customers in New York.
“Once the New York attorney general expressed concern with certain items sold at walmart.com, we blocked the shipment of those items into the state,” said Randy Hargrove, Walmart’s director of national media relations. “Walmart.com has revised its policy so only items which comply with the New York City code are shipped into New York.”“Once the New York attorney general expressed concern with certain items sold at walmart.com, we blocked the shipment of those items into the state,” said Randy Hargrove, Walmart’s director of national media relations. “Walmart.com has revised its policy so only items which comply with the New York City code are shipped into New York.”
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Howard Riefs, director of Corporate Public Relations for Sears Holdings, which also owns Kmart, said the company was pleased to be able to resolve this matter in “a mutually satisfactory way”. Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.Howard Riefs, director of Corporate Public Relations for Sears Holdings, which also owns Kmart, said the company was pleased to be able to resolve this matter in “a mutually satisfactory way”. Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.
Ladd Everitt, director of communications for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, expressed concern about the discrepancy between steps taken to address issues with toy guns and a lack of action on real guns.Ladd Everitt, director of communications for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, expressed concern about the discrepancy between steps taken to address issues with toy guns and a lack of action on real guns.
“It speaks to how absurd the laws are in this country that citizens have access to our courts to make the toy gun industry behave in a responsible manner, but not the real gun industry,” Everitt said, citing the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.“It speaks to how absurd the laws are in this country that citizens have access to our courts to make the toy gun industry behave in a responsible manner, but not the real gun industry,” Everitt said, citing the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
He added: “It’s difficult to see this news and not think of Aurora survivors Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, who have been ordered by a Colorado judge to pay $200,000 to the gun companies that armed their daughter’s killer. The contrast is glaring.”He added: “It’s difficult to see this news and not think of Aurora survivors Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, who have been ordered by a Colorado judge to pay $200,000 to the gun companies that armed their daughter’s killer. The contrast is glaring.”