LANSING, Mich.-State Representative Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor wants toy guns to be more recognizable to prevent a future tragedy similar to the one in Cleveland last November. That's when police shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice.
"The officer had to make a decision, and that decision was 'Do I wait to see if that's a real gun?" explained Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody.
Senate Bill 85 extends the prohibition of local governments from making safety rules for pneumatic or air guns. Rep. Irwin, a Democrat, has proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 85, with the plan to make the state require an orange tip or other more recognizable marking on toy guns.
The amendment was voted down in the committee but it has one last chance next week when it's brought back up for adoption on the floor. Rep. Irwin, who says he's in favor of the 2nd Amendment, is not confident it'll pass next week.
"It's safe to say it's not going to be passed because of the politics up here in Lansing. Every time I put up these amendments to add some gun safety regulation into our gun laws, there's a speech on the other side of the aisle, of how our right to have guns shall be unabridged."
It's important to note that FOX 17 reached out to several Republican members of Congress for comment on this story and the amendment, but none were available to speak with us.
