Upper photo is a real carbine rifle, while the bottom photo was taken of the airsoft rifle seized from man in Kelowna. (Submitted photo/RCMP)

By Pete McIntyre

Showing up more often

Imitation guns can cause real issues

May 18, 2021 | 11:30 AM

Police in the Okanagan are once again pointing out the real concerns than can result from fake guns.

On Saturday morning, May 15, 2021, Kelowna RCMP officers were on routine foot patrol when they encountered a man with what appeared to be a gun in his possession. After a discussion with the officers, the man agreed to consent to allow police to seize and destroy what turned out to be an airsoft rifle.

Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy, spokesperson for the Kelowna RCMP, said the above photo outlines why an airsoft rifle would be a concern to police.

“The photo shows two rifles, and one is real and one is a fake. The upper photo is a real carbine rifle, while the bottom photo was taken of the airsoft rifle seized from the man over the weekend,” Noseworthy said

The corporal said BB guns, airsoft guns and replica firearms that have the appearance of a real gun are showing up more and more frequently in our communities, and the realistic-looking weapons can trigger a very serious response from police.

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“Our front line police officers will treat all guns as real until it can be safely proven that they aren’t,” added Noseworthy. “Imitation firearms need to be dealt with responsibly.”