Police are warning the public about having replica firearms in public, after a recent incident involving an airsoft gun that officers responded to as if the gun was real.
On Dec. 25 at 6:15 p.m., North Vancouver RCMP said they received reports of a road rage incident near Lonsdale Avenue and 13th Street East.
During a heated argument between two motorists, a passenger in one of the vehicles allegedly flashed what appeared to be a handgun, police said. Officers flooded the area and located the suspect vehicle, and ordered the occupants out.
During an ensuing investigation, police said they found the rear passenger was in possession of an airsoft gun that resembled a real gun.
Frontline officers treated the situation very seriously, following all protocols for responding to incidents involving firearms, said Const. Mansoor Sahak. Thankfully, it turned out to be a replica, but passengers in the other vehicle believed it was real, he added.
The 18-year-old in possession of the airsoft gun relinquished it to police, and was remorseful, Sahak said. The youth’s parents were contacted, but no charges were laid. No one was hurt in the incident.
Police want to caution the public, and especially youth, about using imitation guns in public places.
“If you are going to purchase an airsoft gun that resembles a real gun, please use extreme caution,” Sahak said. “If you’re going to transport it to a paintball facility, we ask that you put it in a trunk. Do not carry it as an actual gun. Do not put it in your waistband.
“It can have some potential deadly consequences,” he continued. “If we ever get a call similar to this where somebody’s out there pointing a firearm with other people around, whether it’s a fake or real, we’re going to assume that it’s a real gun.
“So we will have our guns drawn and it’s going to be potentially dangerous,” Sahak said.
He said there are charges that can be laid under the Criminal Code whether a gun is real or not.
