The Cloquet Police Department recently learned of a “Nerf war” game planned to begin May 16 in the community. Many consider “Nerf wars” a competitive sport or activity involving Nerf Blasters or other foam-firing toy weapons. The object of the game is to eliminate the other players or teams by “killing” them by “shooting” them with a Nerf dart.
The Cloquet Police Department urges all participants to use common sense when participating in these types of games, keeping in mind that many citizens in the community are unaware of these events.
Players who chase another player into businesses or other common places in the community while drawing, pointing and firing a dart from a toy gun at another player may cause alarm and result in unexpected reactions by others, including a call for police response.
Distracted driving is a major factor in motor vehicle crashes, especially among younger drivers. The Cloquet Police Department urges players to practice safe driving at all times. Players should refrain from playing while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Players caught violating traffic laws, including shooting or throwing objects from a motor vehicle, may be cited and/or arrested.
Other communities have reported players entering other players’ houses, unannounced and unplanned, to shoot the player while they were sleeping. This presents great risks as other family members may be unaware of such a game occurring, and many own [real] guns for protections from burglaries or other crimes. Not only could the action be unlawful; the potential for an unintended response from someone inside the house or by law enforcement is high.
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If you are stopped or confronted by law enforcement, you should keep your hands visible and do not make any sudden movements that may cause the officer to believe you are reaching for a weapon that could harm them.
As innocent as these games may be, we encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers associated with these types of activities. It is the goal of the Cloquet Police Department to spread public awareness and safety to all members of our community.
More information from the Cloquet Police Department can be found on our social media sites at www.facebook.com/cloquetpolicemn and www.twitter.com/cloquetpolicemn or by texting 55720 to 888777 on your mobile phone.
Link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/224601370/Nerf-Wars-Presser
Contact Information:
Derek Randall
Computer Forensics / Investigations
218-879-5043
drandall@ci.cloquet.mn.us