TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police arrested a man who had modified a toy gun into a firearm, the Taipei City Police Department said Wednesday (Oct. 9).
Police discovered in an investigation that a man surnamed Huang (黃) purchased parts online that could be used to modify the toy into a gun. After obtaining a search warrant, a special task force searched Huang's residence.
A modified APS M870 MKII shotgun and eight shells were seized. The APS M870 is popular among airsoft players due to its similarity to a standard shotgun.
The seized shotgun originally did not have a firing pin and was classified as a legal toy gun. But Huang allegedly replaced certain parts so that it was capable of firing actual bullets.
The case was referred to prosecutors for investigation under Taiwan's Firearms, Ammunition, and Knives Control Act. Police urged toy gun purchasers to be aware of the laws and avoid modifying them.
Taiwan's laws on toy guns classify them based on their power and the kind of bullets they shoot, per Zhe Lu Law Office.
Toy guns that use 6mm plastic airsoft pellets (BBs) and have a power of less than 2 joules do not need permission from the National Police Agency to be made, sold, moved around, or owned. These are called low-energy toy guns and must follow the CNS 127757 standard.
Other non-lethal air guns that do not shoot 6mm plastic BBs, like 4.5mm air guns, riot guns, and paintball guns, are also legal in Taiwan. These guns must have a power of less than 20 joules per square centimeter.
Altering a toy gun to allow it to fire metal or bullets, regardless of its lethality, is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to NT$3 million (US$93,000).
