16,000 plastic toy pistols discovered to be capable of firing live bullets

Some 16,000 plastic toy pistols that were imported by Japan from China have been discovered to be capable of firing live bullets and as a result of this, the pistols have been immediately recalled while parents who have bought them for their children have been urged to return them immediately.

According to the Japanese Times, authorities in Tokyo are on high alert after about 16 brands of toy pistols, totalling 16,000 and which were imported from China, were found to be able to fire live ammunition.

The report added that Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has also issued a warning that thousands of illegal firearms were being offered as gifts to children all around the Asian country, adding that authorities were making everything possible to recall them.

The police added that one of the brands of the toy pistols, known as the ‘Real Gimmick Mini Revolver,’ was imported into Japan from China, saying that although the brightly-coloured plastic toy pistol seemed harmless, its technical specifications suggested that it was capable of being used as an actual firearm.

“The toy comes with eight plastic bullets that can be used to ping various objects or even prank people, but the NPA found that the gun could also potentially be used to fire live ammunition,” the police added.

The police said they identified 16 different types of such toy pistols that employ this mechanism, adding that all of them were made in China. They range from ones made of metal that resemble real pistols to colourful plastic ones.

“While one of the brands does not pose any danger when used as a toy, it adopts the same bullet-firing mechanism as a real pistol, with a firing pin that strikes the back of a bullet. As such, if real bullets are used, it can be used as a lethal weapon,” the NPA said.

One just prays that such brands of plastic toy pistols do not get into Nigeria as many businessmen and women in our country import various goods from China. It was also gathered that certain overseas websites, including those of China, continue to offer such toy pistols for sale. 

As a result of this, Japanese online shopping websites have removed listings of such products following requests made by the country’s police.

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