Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress points an unloaded BB gun to demonstrate how difficult it would be for an officer to discern the difference between it and a real firearm. Childress is asking parents not to buy the replica guns for Christmas and is asking stores not to sell them.

VALDOSTA — “When I saw this last night, I became extremely angry,” said Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress.

During Monday night’s annual Shop With a Cop event, Childress noticed a BB gun for sale that was a near exact replica of a 9mm Beretta handgun, and he is asking parents and store owners to stay away from the items.

Childress held a press conference Tuesday afternoon in which he placed three firearms on a table. Two were actual handguns, but the third was the BB gun he saw at the store.

“Can you tell a difference?” asked Childress.

The features of the BB gun were similar to the real handgun. The only visible difference was the opening of the barrel which is barely discernible from even a short distance.

“If I took this and pointed it at a police officer, what is that cop going to do? He’s going to think it’s a gun,” said Childress. “Show me where on this gun a police officer could possibly know that it is a fake. This is the exact mechanism of a 9mm Beretta. How in the world could you possible know the difference?”

Childress believes the guns pose a threat to community safety and points the blame at the companies who produce them. He is also calling for stores not to sell them.

“This is absurd. When I saw this last night, chills went up my spine, and I became instantly angry,” said Childress. “We should not be selling things like this. I had a BB gun as a kid, but mine didn’t look like a 9mm Beretta. This is insane.”

Childress said he believes purchasing or producing BB guns that so closely resemble a real firearm is irresponsible and could lead to an incident similar to a recent shooting in which an Ohio police officer shot and killed a 12-year-old boy wielding a BB gun.

“My worst nightmare is that one of my officers has to shoot somebody, and it turns out it was a BB gun or airsoft gun,” said Childress. “We are Monday-morning-quarterbacking law enforcement right now, and some law enforcement deserve that. No doubt about it. But I’m telling you if one of my officers shot somebody who pulled (a replica BB gun) on them, I would have a hard time telling the public my officer was wrong.”

Childress said he believes BB guns should be clearly marked as toys by making the tips orange or by making the guns entirely different colors. VPD takes the same precautions with training guns. The rubber guns are colored red and blue, so they are not confused with real firearms, said Childress.

“I was outraged last night that they even make these things,” said Childress. “I’m not anti-gun. I own guns myself. I am anti not using common sense. This is not common sense. This is asking for trouble.”