The US weapons manufacturer Culper Precision has withdrawn a gun, which looks like it is covered in Lego bricks, from the market.
All sales of the ‘Block19’ gun – a wordplay on ‘Glock19’ – have been stopped after the company was approached by Lego’s lawyers.
“We have been in contact with Culper Precision, and they have agreed to remove the product from their website and to not produce or sell any similar products in the future,” the Lego Group informed TV2.
Anti-gun groups outraged
According to The Washington Post, Lego’s attention was drawn to the matter after outrage from several anti-gun activist groups.
“This ‘Lego Glock’ is an actual thing you can buy, build and shoot. Honestly, what childhood toy is more welcoming than a big ole pile of blocks,” wrote Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, on Twitter.
In the tweet, Watts also pointed out that: “Unintentional shootings among children have risen by 30 percent in the past year.”
Culper Precision: Shooting is “SUPER FUN”
In a now deleted text on its website, Culper Precision explained its intentions when the Block19 was released.
“There is a satisfaction that can ONLY be found in the shooting sports, and this is just one small way to break the rhetoric from Anti-Gun folks and draw attention to the fact that the shooting sports are SUPER FUN!” the company proclaimed.
In the wake of the controversy, the gun company released a new statement declaring it had hoped to highlight the “joy of shooting”
“We built Block19 to create an opportunity to talk about the enjoyment of the shooting sports and the joy that can only be found in marksmanship,” it wrote.
According to company owner Brandon Scott, the Block19 had been on the market for a short time and less than 20 copies had been sold.
More accidents involving children
The controversy comes at a critical time, as accidents involving children and firearms are on the rise in the US. Records show that 166 children under the age of 11 have been killed accidentally by firearms in 2021.
In the US, it is illegal to produce a children’s toy that resembles a real gun too closely. However, no law exists preventing a real gun from resembling a toy.
