Listen Live
HomeNewsMan handling BB gun in Campbell River parking lot draws police response

Man handling BB gun in Campbell River parking lot draws police response

The Campbell River RCMP is warning that showing a gun of any kind in public is a bad idea.

A local man found that out last Saturday after police received reports that he was handling a pistol in the parking lot of the Campbell River Walmart. 

Officers caught up with him in the Home Depot parking lot. 

It turns out that it was a newly purchased BB gun that he just couldn’t wait to unwrap. 

Once it was clear there was no threat, the man was free to go on his way, a little shaken from a multi officer response. 

Campbell River RCMP spokesman, Const. Maury Tyre, says, unfortunately, these kinds of occurrences are a little too common. 

“These BB and pellet pistols are designed to look like the real thing. Members of the public and police cannot tell them apart at first glance and it can create some very dangerous situations,” Tyre said. 

“We have had reports of people waving handguns around out of the windows of their cars, or using an imitation to threaten people with. The response of officers will be as if the firearm is real because until we get our hands on it, we can’t tell for sure. We have to act as if every weapons call is legitimate to ensure the public’s safety and our safety.”

The Campbell River RCMP recommends that if you own a BB or pellet gun, that you treat it as you would any other firearm – lock it up, safely transport it, and only use it in a safe location.  

To report a crime, call the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221 or call 911 in an emergency.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -