THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 15, 1994 TAG: 9410150216
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Two of the nation's largest toy store chains said Friday they would join a movement to end the sale of realistic toy firearms like the ones that have caused mistaken police shootings and been used in hundreds of hold-ups.
Kay-Bee Toy Stores, with more than 1,000 outlets, said it would remove and destroy all such toys. Toys R Us, with more than 600 stores, said it would sell what it has in stock but buy no more.
The Bradlee's and Kmart retail chains and many independent toy stores have already removed or agreed to stop buying the toy weapons, and Toys R Us Chief Executive Officer Michael Goldstein said he would seek an industry-wide ban.
The corporate announcements were inspired by the Sept. 27 death of 13-year-old Nicholas Heyward Jr., who was playing in the stairwell of a Brooklyn apartment building when a housing authority police officer mistook his 18-inch toy rifle for a real weapon.
Widespread criminal use of the toy weapons and Friday's industry reaction underline the failure of a 1988 congressional effort to solve the problem by requiring bright orange markings on toy firearms. Police report the orange pieces were either removed or painted over, making the toys hard to identify as plastic, particularly in the dark. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press color photo
Toys R Us chief Michael Goldstein, right, and New York City Police
officer James Davis.
by CNB