"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 240-A, sponsored by Council Members Vann, Weprin, Arroyo, Brewer, Comrie, Foster, Gennaro, James, Koppell, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Stewart, Liu, Vallone, Rivera, Jackson, White, Recchia, Garodnick, Mealy, Rodriguez and Lappin..  Introductory Number 240-A increases the penalties associated with the sale of imitation firearms. 

"The brave men and women of the NYPD have done a remarkable job bringing crime down to record lows-often in the face of grave danger.  Not being able to tell if a gun being drawn on them is real or fake can mean the difference between life and death for a police officer, and that's a risk that no one should ever have to take.  Current law requires that fake guns be brightly colored in either green, pink, or red.  By increasing the minimum penalty for those who sell fake guns that look real and enhancing penalties for recidivists, we can help make sure that such a tragedy does not happen in New York City.  Once this bill takes effect, the Department of Consumer Affairs will also have the authority to padlock for five consecutive days any business that violates the law at least three times in two years.

"I would like to thank Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo, and their staff for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."