Stockton Residents Say Toy Guns Sold From Ice Cream Trucks
POSTED: 11:15 am PST March 31,
2005
UPDATED: 11:38 am PST March 31,
2005
STOCKTON, Calif. -- A Stockton neighborhood is angry over what's being sold from ice cream trucks.
Residents say the trucks are selling toy guns to children, and three children have already been suspended or expelled for bringing the fake weapons to school. As it stands right now, there are no clear laws stating what ice cream truck operators can sell. Because it's a gray area, some residents are pushing the Stockton City Council to take action. The residents say vendors are exploiting their access to children by selling them toy guns. San Joaquin County School Board trustee Beverly Foster said she bought toy guns from one vendor that had the "Ghuman" name on the side. KCRA 3 asked two operators who displayed the name on the side, and both denied that they sold toy guns. "I've been 22 years selling ice cream, and I didn't do it," said Harry Ghuman. Three weeks ago, 7-year-old George Brookins was suspended from Van Buren Elementary School for bringing his toy gun to school. He was the second student to be suspended from Van Buren because of the toys. Another student was expelled from San Joaquin Elementary School for the same offense. Foster said all three bought their fake weapons from ice cream operators. And bringing a gun -- toy or not -- violates the California education code.A city of Stockton representative said a subcommittee will examine whether they need a new ordinance to clarify what the vendors can sell.
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