Crime & Safety
Kevin de León Wants to Reintroduce Toy Gun Bill After Boy's Shooting
The recent deadly incident in Santa Rosa recalls a similar one between a Glassell Park boy and an LAPD officer in 2011. Would de León's bill, which never made it out of committee, prevented the recent tragedy?
A 13-year-boy walking to a friend's home on Oct. 22 on the outskirts of Santa Rosa carrying a replica plastic BB gun was shot to death by a sheriff's deputy, who says he mistook the toy for an assault weapon.
The death is very similar to a 2011 incident in Glassell Park where a 13-year-old was shot by an LAPD officer while playing with friends and was left a paraplegic.
That Santa Rosa incident prompted state Senator Kevin de León in 2011 to introduce a bill would have required the kind of gun the boys were carrying to be painted in a bright color, but never made it out of an Assembly committee.
Now, the Los Angeles Times and KTLA reported earlier this week, de León wants to reintroduce the bill.
Take a look at the attached report and tell us what you think in the comments.
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