Ohio legislation seeks ban on lookalike guns

COLUMBUS (AP) — Legislation in Ohio would prohibit the production, sale and public display of lookalike guns.

A bill introduced Thursday by Rep. Bill Patmon would ban all BB guns or other gun replicas that could be confused with a real weapon. The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports violators would face up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The proposal comes after two fatal police shootings last year of young people holding lookalike guns in Ohio. John Crawford III, 22, was fatally shot in August while carrying an air rifle in a suburban Dayton Walmart. A 12-year-old boy with a pellet gun in Cleveland was killed in November.

Lawmakers haven’t yet acted on another proposed bill requiring all lookalike guns to be brightly colored or have fluorescent strips.