Store bosses fear Star Wars toy could be mistaken for firearm

Dec 14 2008 By Nick McCarthy

banning the sale of any weapon-style products to anyone under the age of 18, even if they are clearly toys like these.

“I think it’s a bit over the top in this instance, but it really is up to the individual companies and stores to set their own rules, they can sell what they want to who they want.

“The 2007 act governing imitation firearms, BB guns and toys says that this would not be deemed close enough to looking like a gun, but they appear to not be taking any chances.

“There is a serious side to all this. Some toys that do look like guns in shape, size and colour should not be sold to under 18s. As well as the many hundreds of times that armed police are called out across the country, there is the very serious danger that people can get shot.”

A spokesman for the popular Birmingham based Nostalgia and Comics shop, in Smallbrook Queensway, which specialises in sci-fi comics, books and toys says it sells a similar lightsaber product aimed at four year olds - without any age restrictions.

He added: “They are clearly toys and I cannot see how they can be mistaken for firearms.

“You obviously have to be careful in this area and we sell a number of age restricted products, which we obviously strictly enforce, but this is not one of them.

“I can understand that shops and stores have their own policies and I know that some have stopped