Parents living at Los Portales apartment complex say the ice cream truck that drives through a few times per week is selling airsoft guns to kids. They think that is dangerous.
Monday was the most recent incident.
"I was getting in my car and my son's 11-year-old friend said 'Hey look what I got from the ice cream man'," said Shannon Penhollow.
That boy purchased an M777B airsoft gun from UKARMS. On the box it says it is a "1:1 scale replica high performance airsoft gun". It shoots small, plastic pellets.
"He took the clip out and showed us the BBs and then he shot it and I thought 'Really? Ice cream man?'" said Penhollow.
She says the boy bought the gun for $4.
Nine On Your Side obtained the box these guns come in. On the front cover it says "For ages 18 and up". On the side of the box, there is another sign indicating the same thing. Inside the box, there is a pink slip with the terms and conditions for the gun. Number one says "Never allow children under 18 years of age to operate this airsoft gun."
None of that prevented the gun from being sold to an 11-year-old boy.
Kids in the neighborhood say getting shot with one will sting, and getting shot in the eye could make you go blind.
Both adults and kids wonder what could happen if an airsoft gun like this gets into the hands of someone younger.
"Kids that are younger than him, five or six years old, they will buy it too because they see it and think it's something cool," said Penhollow.
"If a little kid gets a hold of one then everybody will be in trouble because he doesn't know what that is," said Tanner Pennhollow, Shannon's 11-year-old son.
To our knowledge, no one has been seriously hurt by these airsoft guns at the apartment complex.
Additionally, at Los Portales Apartments ice cream trucks are not even allowed. A "no soliciting" sign shows clearly at the entrance.
While Nine On Your Side was there, the ice cream truck never came and we could not reach them for comment.
If you have similar concerns in your neighborhood, Tucson Police say you should call the non-emergency police line at 520-791-6813. If there is an emergency, call 911.
