In the discussion of the BB guns, and its lethality or otherwise,
it seems to have been lost to all concerned that in Singapore, the
community is accustomed to living in a "nanny" state, where
security is well looked after.
Most members of the public are unfamiliar with guns, and even to an
NSF who is trained in most types of PERSONAL arms used in the SAF,
he could hardly distinguish one lethal weapon from another, let
alone knowing that a BB gun is harmless.
Certainly, the average NSF men will hardly know that the red paint
at the tip of the BB gun barrel indicates it as being
"harmless"(?).
In the hands of an agressive person, intent on doing harm, the
harmless BB gun can be intimidating, and cause the intended effect
on any innocent member of the Singapore community - especially the
ignorant housewife, old folks, youngsters, nerds(?).
Fear, intimidation, submission, surrender, would be the subsequent
result.
Death, wounding, maiming, blinding, hurt, would be the thought that
cross the minds of most normal humans.
To avoid creating such an environment, the laws of Singapore has
made it a blanket policy to ban all kinds of guns in public places,
that are not handled by authorised persons.
