Needham, Massachusetts, once more finds itself grappling with the perils posed by gel blaster toys that are virtually indistinguishable from real firearms. Following a tense encounter at a local business which could have turned tragic, Needham Police Department is sharply admonishing parents to think twice before allowing these deceptive toys into their children's hands. According to a report by CBS News Boston, an incident at a business last night saw officers come face to face with what at first appeared to be a real rifle.
The Needham police have since released a statement explaining the challenges they face when they are forced to quickly make split-second decisions with limited information in such scenarios. The police stated on CBS News Boston, "In situations like this, police officers are forced to make split-second decisions with limited information. This incident ended without anyone getting hurt, but that was a matter of luck." Further amplifying these concerns, the Newport Dispatch brought to light the fact that the toy had none of the safety markings that could have aided officers or bystanders to quickly discern its true nature as a non-lethal object.
This is not an isolated occurrence in Needham or the state. Earlier this year, both CBS News Boston and the Newport Dispatch recall events where students unleashed panic by bringing gel blasters to school grounds. Just in June, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School on Cape Cod was put on lockdown after a student fired a gel blaster at peers, while situations in Canton and Billerica involving similar items prompted police action and culminated in arrests.
Now, Needham police are reminding parents and guardians to vigilantly look over what their children are purchasing. They urge communities to avoid anything that looks and feels like a real gun, especially when they have "no indicators that would help officers or bystanders recognize them as toys," as mentioned on CBS News Boston.
