NORTH OGDEN -- Police Chief Polo Afuvai pulled out what looked like a regular handgun and set it on the podium Tuesday night at the city council meeting.
"This is an airsoft gun. They are exact replicas of actual guns, and the only difference is the orange on the end," Afuvai told council members, some of whom looked surprised to see a gun.
Afuvai does not want to see use of airsoft guns legalized in North Ogden city limits because of the risk of injury. Right now, use of the guns in city limits is a class B misdemeanor.
A Boy Scout troop recently asked the council to change the ordinance to allow airsoft guns to be used in the city.
Boy Scout Colby Widdison told the council he and his friends want to be able to use airsoft guns because they believe it can be done safely, especially if provisions in the ordinance suggest safety gear must be worn.
Scout leader Dean Halbert said the boys wouldn't be shooting the guns as Scouts, but were approaching the council as Scouts to meet requirements for a merit badge.
"They would be using it for their own personal use. It's an activity primarily for boys ages 10 to 14," Halbert said.
"It says on the gun that it should not be used by anyone under the age of 18," Afuvai said.
He had called around to stores that sell the guns and learned they are sold only to adults. Ogden, South Ogden and Centerville do not allow the use of airsoft guns in city limits, either.
Afuvai also is concerned that airsoft guns can look like regular guns, which can confuse officers.
"One thing that is confusing to me is that cap guns and BB guns have always been used," said City Councilman Ron Flamm. "You see these little toy guns sold in stores, and it's harder and harder to tell the difference. You can hit a person with them (airsoft guns) and it doesn't hurt much. These boys don't want to do something illegal, but these guns are much safer than a BB gun."
Afuvai said he believes allowing airsoft guns in the city may increase violence among youths and cause a rise in property damage. He doesn't want his officers to be responsible for policing the issues that may come with legalization.
"This ordinance is written to protect people."
He suggested parents could talk to him about letting the boys use the airsoft guns in their backyards on private property.
Councilman Brent Taylor would support an ordinance that allows airsoft guns on private property. He said if the ordinance is written prohibiting the use of the guns because of their appearance, maybe other toy guns should be looked at as well.
Resident Dave Hulme doesn't want the use of airsoft guns to be prohibited.
"In general, I notice a shift away from guns, and it makes me nervous for the future," he said, adding he believes boys need to have experience playing with toy guns so they will want to join the military.
"I think we need to try to take a civil approach and write something into the ordinance that allows them on private property with parent supervision," Hulme said.
"I think you should let airsoft guns in our city," resident Whit Woods said, noting that youngsters have always played with toy guns and have gotten injured from time to time but survived.
"Let us govern ourselves and use prudence."
The council plans to revisit the issue.
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