A heated debate has broken out in North Mankato after a 12-year-old boy was ticketed for discharging a firearm after he shot colorful plastic balls out of an air soft gun.
Dyllon Johnston is a typical pre-teen boy who loves playing video games and playing with toy guns -- but in August, he and two other boys were playing with air soft guns at his cousin's house when they all were ticketed.
"We have never gotten in trouble for it," Johnston protested. "We didn't know it was wrong at all."
The toy guns are widely available in stores, and there aren't many restrictions on them. No age requirement, no waiting period. The power of an air soft gun is much lower than a BB or pellet gun, and the range of the plastic BBs is only about a quarter of the distance of a standard metal BB.
"They are just these plastic guns that shoot these colorful plastic balls that don't hurt at all," he explained. "We normally wear safety glasses. You don't get hit in the eye or anything. They are pretty much harmless."
Not everyone seems to think so, however. In 2009, the city of North Mankato expanded its firearm ordinance to prohibit air soft guns -- along with paintball guns and any other device that involves the propulsion of an object by compressed gas or a mechanical spring.
"I had no idea," Johnston told FOX 9 News. "I didn't think it would be that big of a deal that you get cited for shooting a toy gun."
Neither did his dad, who said he knew his son couldn't fire a BB gun in the city but never thought an air soft gun would be a problem.
"I could see why they would want to ban BB guns and pellet guns -- but a plastic, toy gun?" Mike Johnston said.
The Johnstons say they do not blame the officer for enforcing current law, but the family does want the law changed because they don't think the penalty for firing a gun should carry the same penalty as playing with a toy.
Mike Johnston told FOX 9 News his son has never been in trouble before, but he now fears a misdemeanor like this could cost him is ability to enlist in the military or go to college.
"I don't want this in his record," Johnston said. "I don't want this impacting his life as he's becoming an adult.
The mayor, police chief and city attorney in North Mankato all declined comment for this story, but the city is not the only one with this type of ordinance; however, the City Council may revisit the ordinance at the end of the year.
Sunday, May 26 2013 10:23 PM EDT2013-05-27 02:23:33 GMT
Newly hired Rutgers University Athletic Director Julie Hermann was hired less than two weeks ago to clean up the athletic department after the university fired its men's basketball coach
Newly hired Rutgers University Athletic Director Julie Hermann was hired less than two weeks ago to clean up the athletic department after the university fired its men's basketball coach
Sunday, May 26 2013 9:17 PM EDT2013-05-27 01:17:18 GMT
Gov. Christie plans to speak with Rutgers officials about a report that the woman hired to clean up the scandal-scarred athletic program quit as Tennessee's women's volleyball coach because of abuse
Gov. Christie plans to speak with Rutgers officials about a report that the woman hired to clean up the scandal-scarred athletic program quit as Tennessee's women's volleyball coach because of abuse
Sunday, May 26 2013 9:11 PM EDT2013-05-27 01:11:26 GMT
The Town of Huntington held its annual Memorial Day wreath ceremony Sunday honoring those who fought and died for freedom. The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the town hall.
The Town of Huntington held its annual Memorial Day wreath ceremony Sunday honoring those who fought and died for freedom. The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the town hall.
Sunday, May 26 2013 8:44 PM EDT2013-05-27 00:44:36 GMT
New Rochelle police say a man wielding a knife was shot and killed by officers in his apartment Sunday afternoon. Authorities say they received a call about an emotionally disturbed man around 4:00 p.m.
New Rochelle police say a man wielding a knife was shot and killed by officers in his apartment Sunday afternoon. Authorities say they received a call about an emotionally disturbed man around 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 26 2013 8:01 PM EDT2013-05-27 00:01:40 GMT
Sunday was not the type of weather most had hoped for this Memorial Day weekend, but it was certainly better than Saturday's weather. The sun decided to shine and temperatures warmed up enough
Sunday was not the type of weather most had hoped for this Memorial Day weekend, but it was certainly better than Saturday's weather. The sun decided to shine and temperatures warmed up enough for people to head outside
Sunday, May 26 2013 5:18 PM EDT2013-05-26 21:18:04 GMT
The Tunnel to Towers foundation sent two vans Sunday morning to Moore, Oklahoma, which was ravaged by a tornado last week, with work gear and other supplies.
The Tunnel to Towers foundation sent two vans Sunday morning to Moore, Oklahoma, which was ravaged by a tornado last week, with work gear and other supplies.
Sunday, May 26 2013 4:52 PM EDT2013-05-26 20:52:56 GMT
Suffolk County police say an 82-year-old woman was killed in a single car crash early Sunday morning. Authorities say Vera Quashie was driving her Hyundai around 12:15 a.m. on Route 109
Suffolk County police say an 82-year-old woman was killed in a single car crash early Sunday morning. Authorities say Vera Quashie was driving her Hyundai around 12:15 a.m. on Route 109
Sunday, May 26 2013 4:22 PM EDT2013-05-26 20:22:27 GMT
Police say a woman died when she was hit by a vehicle on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn early Sunday morning.
Police say a woman died when she was hit by a vehicle on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. The accident happened shortly after midnight when the 53-year-old victim was walking in the left lane
Sunday, May 26 2013 3:52 PM EDT2013-05-26 19:52:23 GMT
Through much of the last century, New York built America's locomotives, automobile parts, steel girders and more through three shifts a day. Today, the state is next to last on CEOs' list of states to set up shop.
Through much of the last century, New York built America's locomotives, automobile parts, steel girders and more through three shifts a day. Today, the Empire State is next to last on CEOs' list of states to set up shop
Sunday, May 26 2013 12:09 PM EDT2013-05-26 16:09:07 GMT
The state Attorney General's Office will reportedly pay $325,000 to a former state police trooper to settle claims he was mistreated after warning that the division was failing to properly keep track of its...
The state Attorney General's Office will reportedly pay $325,000 to a former state police trooper to settle claims he was mistreated after warning that the division was failing to properly keep track of its thousands of...
