Sheriff Warns Against Replica Guns

A surge of incidents with people using replica guns such as pellet guns or BB guns has the Washington County Sheriff's Office warning about their dangers.

Three times last week, deputies responded to 911 calls about people shooting or threatening to shoot someone.

In all three instances, they were pellet guns or BB guns.

"We work hard every day to ensure that our interactions with the public are as safe and peaceful as possible," says Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett.

"These dangerously realistic guns are being marketed as cool and trendy, when improperly used, the consequences could have catastrophic results."

The sheriff says that in a "real, rapidly developing situation" a replica gun could be mistaken for a real gun and the results could be tragic.

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While federal law since 1989 has required replica guns be either equipped with a bright orange plug at the end or have their bodies painted a bright color, deputies often find the guns to have been altered.

Also, BB guns and pellet guns are not covered under the law.