17-year-old holding fake gun during robbery shot dead by Jacksonville police

[ObamaFTW2012]

1. Current law in most states

is that "facsimile firearms" must have an orange muzzle to visibly differentiate them from real firearms. I believe it is a federal requirement for importation as well. I feel that is sufficient, so long as there are penalties for violating the laws. If a person then buys a facsimile firearm and proceeds to make it appear real by removing/concealing the orange tip, or otherwise make it appear to be a real firearm, he/she should be prosecuted.

If a facsimile firearm is used in the commission of a violent crime - brandished as a real firearm during a robbery, etc - the perpetrator should be charged as if it were a real firearm. I believe this is the law in some states, but it should be the law in all states. Any consequences of attempting to commit a crime using a facsimile gun are, in my opinion, entirely the fault of the perpetrator.

As for this particular story, I feel that the perpetrator, a 17 year old, understood what he was doing (in contrast to say a 9 year old) and chose to gamble with his life. I feel no sympathy for him beyond my disappointment in his parents' failure to instill in him morals and integrity. Being a minor, I feel his death is their fault.