99-cent store in NYC fined $30,000 for stocking toy guns

[Little-Acorn]

I'd thought the paranoid hysteria over harmless toys had just about reached its peak.

I was wrong.

Yep, a cheap, shiny plastic six-gun at a 99-cent store. With a BIG orange cap.

If someone pointed one of those at me, I'd certainly use deadly force in return. Wouldn't you?

Thirty THOUSAND dollars in fines and penalties.

I feel so much safer now.

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http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/01/17/Store-fined-30K-for-stocking-toy-guns/UPI-86241326818126/?rel=88311328028599

Store fined $30K for stocking toy guns

by Kevin Dietsch
Published: Jan. 17, 2012 at 11:35 AM

NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A New York discount store was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine for stocking toy guns that were deemed to be "too realistic".

http://www.joissu.com/images/18-331.jpg

Andrew Tilem, lawyer for the odds-and-ends store called 99¢ Target, said the fine amounts to $5,000 for each of the six toy sheriff sets put up for sale at the store in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Tilem said the vendor for the toys, JMD All Star of New Jersey, told owner Jamal Ahmed the sets, which included orange plastic-tipped toy guns, were legal for sale and one of the store's managers failed to inform the owner when a city inspector wrote the store up for stocking the items.

City regulations bar the sale of realistic toy weapons.

Tilem said Ahmed missed a hearing due to not being informed by the manager and the city imposed the $30,000 fine, which he described as "a really, really abusive penalty."

A spokeswoman for the city's Consumer Affairs department said the fine was appealed, but upheld.

[revelarts]

crazy.

not to derail your thread but I hope none would even attempt to defend that. And I read enough like to get me wondering about other options. You more well traveled guys and gals, I been thinking like, Ecuador or a couple of isolated pacific rim islands or maybe the Seychelles off Africa. It was high on the list until i heard a new U.S. military base was going there. but it still may be an option.
What are the best foreign countries to retire too in your opinions?

[ConHog]

Wouldn't a 99 cent fine have been more appropriate? :coffee:

[fj1200]

What are the best foreign countries to retire too in your opinions?

You might start your search here based on economic freedom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Economic_Freedom). You've got 9 from which to choose.

[jimnyc]

crazy.

not to derail your thread but I hope none would even attempt to defend that.

What happens if someone pops the orange cap off and spray paints the gun glossy black? I've seen MANY plastic guns that could very easily be mistaken for the real thing. In the past 20 years there have probably been more killings and assaults because of fake guns than anywhere else. I personally think the amount of the fine is a bit steep, but I would imagine if you were a parent of a child killed as a result, you might think it's too small.

[Little-Acorn]

What happens if someone pops the orange cap off and spray paints the gun glossy black?
It becomes even more dangerous than it is with the orange cap. Three times as dangerous, in fact.

[logroller]

In a related story: the black market for toy guns is on the rise...:laugh:

[Abbey Marie]

I buy guns like these for plays I am working on. Maybe I will be forced to buy real ones for the stage now. :rolleyes: