Mankato police are warning the public about the dangers of replica firearms after responding to two recent calls involving people pointing what appeared to be guns at others.
Officers say that when they located the suspects, the weapons turned out to be fake. In one case, the weapon was a lighter, while the other was a water gun.
Public Safety Director Jeremy Clifton says imitation firearms can be nearly impossible to distinguish from real guns, especially from a distance or during a split-second encounter.
Police are urging parents to talk with children about the dangers of carrying replica weapons, including airsoft and squirt guns, in public.
If you see someone with what appears to be a firearm, police say do not approach them. Get to a safe location and call 911.
