New Bedford Councillor Wants Toy Guns Brightly Colored

City Councillor Brian Gomes is resurrecting a decade-old proposal that could have national implications.  He's asking the City Council to send a letter to the State Delegation, calling for changes to the color schemes of replica and toy guns.

Gomes says all too often, toy guns are confused for real ones, both innocently and criminally. "It's a different time, a different era. You do not produce a "Glock" that looks like a Glock. It can be used against a store clerk, a police officer, a victim of crime," said Gomes.

Last year, Boston banned replica guns in public spaces. Gomes says he would like to see manufacturers produce toy guns in fluorescent colors, allowing police and the public to easily distinguish the difference between a toy and a real gun.

The motion will be taken up during Thursday night's regular City Council meeting.