MARGATE POLICE/Orbeez gun.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The latest Tik Tok challenge is nothing like the Ice Bucket Challenge that raised millions of dollars for the ALS Association to help find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Margate Police this week issued a new challenge to parents to talk to their children about the dangerous viral Tik Tok social media fad that’s injuring people across the country.
“I saw it on the news and, unfortunately, it has made its way to our little town,” Public Information Officer Lt. Joe Scullion said. “We have had several calls from residents who have seen kids with these Orbeez guns.”
The Tic Tok social media craze is encouraging young people to record themselves shooting what the manufacturer calls “super-soft, squishy and fun” water gel beads 6-8 millimeters in diameter at vehicles and unsuspecting strangers.
“You can imagine the problems this is posing for law enforcement,” Scullion said.
Some taking the challenge are altering the “toy” guns to look like real guns, or freezing the pellets, which could cause greater injury, he said.
“They are powerful on their own, but they have controls that can convert them into semi-automatic or fully-automatic modes. They have velocity settings as high as 250 feet per second,” he said.
That’s comparable to the speed of steel BB gun pellets.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries in Margate, but it’s just a matter of time, Scullion said, unless parents talk to their children about the dangers of accepting the challenge.
“It’s not just here, it’s happening in different states all over the country,” Scullion said.
He said the department is not aware if the guns are being sold locally, but they are readily available at box stores and online.
Scullion said the department has received complaints about the challenge in the area near Huntington Avenue which is close to the city’s middle school.
The guns, which retail for as much as $100, are sold as a plaything, although they come in assault rifle, sub-machine gun and gatling styled models and can shoot as many as 10 beads per second. A check of the company website shows the machine gun model has been sold out.
Some law enforcement agencies are prosecuting teenagers taking part in the challenge with assault or aggravated assault, which is a felony.
To address what could result in injuries, the Margate Police are asking parents to educate their children about the disturbing trend.
“Put simply, these are dangerous and can cause injury. Additionally, the use of these toys in this manner is illegal under NJ law and could result in charges being brought against any person, juvenile or adult, who would participate in this challenge,” police said in a press release posted on their Facebook page. “Parents, if you have one of these splatter guns in your home, please remain in control of it and ensure it’s ONLY used for play, in proper circumstances, and with appropriate safety gear.”
Police advise residents who see anyone participating in the Orbeez challenge to immediately call the Margate City Police Department at 609-822-1151.
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