The fatal police shooting of a man in Cincinnati last week is restoking a debate over imitation firearms. Statehouse reporter Andy Chow has more.
Lawmakers in the Ohio House want to ban imitation firearms which can look exactly like a regular, deadly weapon.
Last week video showed Cincinnati police ask a man to put his hands in the air, then opened fire when he reached for what ended up being an air soft gun.
Democratic Representative Alicia Reece of Cincinnati proposed a "lookalikes" ban after the 2014 shootings of Tamir Rice in Cleveland and John Crawford in Beavercreek.
She says it will protect law enforcement, improve their relationship with the community and hurt only the manufacturers.
Reece: “They look real, let’s be real. Manufacturers are making money because they look real.”
Two bills to ban imitation firearms have each only received one hearing so far.