| The packaging (see above) on the Elite 50187 Air Pellets Gun, which retails for £2.49, clearly states it is not a toy and should never be pointed at another person or animal and the use of safety glasses is recommended.
When tested by the Tele, the pistol shot pellets more than 15 metres and they easily punched their way through three sheets of paper bound together — leaving a 2mm hole.
Our gun was purchased from Zaveri’s Newsagents, in Abercromby Street. Owner Naeem Zaveri today defended his decision to stock and sell the gun, claiming it should never have been taken into the school grounds.
“The children who bought them shouldn’t be taking them into the school in the first place — it is just a toy,” Mr Zaveri said.
“We have been selling them for a long time, but never had any problems. Most of the shops that stock them haven’t had problems that I know of either.”
However, Mr Zaveri has now removed the remaining stock, around four more guns, from the shelves. “This is the first time we’ve had to remove anything like this from our shelves but because of the accident we have taken that step,” he said.
“I don’t want to sell them to anyone if it means people might get hurt.
“It’s just something we got in for the summer but I didn’t know how much trouble it was going to cause.”
Although the item has been removed the Tele was able to obtain one of the guns today.
The life-sized, lifelike gun was easy to use and fired with alarming force and speed.
The outside packaging and the instruction manual inside the box clearly state the gun is not a toy and should not be purchased by people under 14.
It also advises users to read the instructions carefully before use. It is not clear exactly where the gun is made. |
