Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 

Files: Various 

Victoria, BC – Since July 1, VicPD has responded to 20 reports of people possessing, pointing, or holding firearms in public spaces which were determined to be realistic pistol-shaped lighters or torches. Police are cautioning the public about possessing these items. 

               

While a Close Look Reveals These Are Not Real Firearms, It Can Be Much Harder to Tell Under the Circumstances of a Police Emergency. 

Though pistol-shaped lighters and torches are not illegal, their appearance can cause alarm in the community, especially when they are tucked into waistbands or visible from back pockets or bags, often leading to resource-intensive, high-priority responses. 

“Officers regularly encounter both real and replica firearms in the line of duty, which pose serious safety risks to the public, the individuals carrying them, and responding officers,” said VicPD Firearms Coordinator Sgt. Dale Sleightholme. “In situations where real or imitation firearms are involved, officers must make split-second, life or death decisions on how they respond. For officer safety, we treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise.”  

Below are some of the calls received: 

  • July 3 – Patrol officers responded to a report of a man with a firearm tucked in his waistband in the 300-block of Douglas Street. The firearm was determined to be a pistol shaped lighter. 

 

  • July 14 – Patrol officers responded to a report of someone pointing a gun at a jogger in Topaz Park. The firearm was determined to be a pistol-shaped lighter. 

 

  • July 18 – Patrol officers responded to a report of a man waving around a small pistol and then a knife in the 700-block of Pandora Avenue. The firearm was determined to be a lighter shaped like a pistol. 

 

  • August 16 – Patrol officers responded to a report that a man had left a store in the 1200-block of Douglas Street holding a firearm behind his back. The firearm was determined to be a lighter shaped like a pistol. 

 

  • August 22 – Patrol officers responded to the 200-block of Superior Street for two people causing a disturbance. Officers located one of the suspects, who had what appeared to be a small handgun sticking out of a pocket in his backpack. The suspect was arrested for possession of a firearm and was found to have over 30 grams of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl, a knife, folding baton, and $320 in his possession. The firearm was determined to be a lighter in the shape of a pistol. 

     

Despite these reports involving pistol-shaped lighters or torches that are not illegal or real firearms, we encourage the community to continue reporting to police if they suspect someone may be in possession of a firearm in public. 

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