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This fake handgun was taken from 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot by Cleveland police last November. New legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives would ban the sale and manufacture of all imitation firearms in the state.

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Newly introduced legislation in the Ohio House would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or public display of toy guns designed to look like the real thing.

Under House Bill 119, authored by Democratic state Rep. Bill Patmon of Cleveland, the ban would apply to any BB gun or gun replica that a "reasonable person" would confuse with a real firearm.

Those who make, sell, or publicly brandish imitation guns could face up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Patmon said such a ban is needed because of the deaths of Tamir Rice, John Crawford III, and others who were shot by police while holding imitation firearms.

"It's either a gun or it's not," Patmon said in an interview. "This idea of imitations has gone a bit far, especially in this day and age. ... This is a bill that if it saves one child or one adult, then I think it's done its job."

It's unclear what the bill's chances are in the Republican-dominated House.

Lawmakers have yet to act on another Democrat-backed bill introduced in January that would require all BB guns, air rifles and airsoft-type guns sold in Ohio to be brightly colored or have prominent fluorescent strips.

Patmon said that legislation, House Bill 16, doesn't go far enough.