‘Automatic Deadlines’

It’s easy to see why there is so much interest in banning plastic guns. ( “Talk of Plastic Gun Stirs Calls for New Legislation,” Part I, April 26).

Times staff writer J. Michael Kennedy points out in his well-rounded article that some members of Congress “see the product of such technology as the perfect terrorist tool, a hijacker’s delight, because of the relative ease with which a gun could be passed through airport metal detectors and X-ray machines.”

I support legislation that would ban these plastic guns, but, for the airport security reason alone, hope these same members of Congress would also support a ban on realistic looking plastic toy guns.

No airport security system can detect replica toy weapons. They look exactly like the real thing. And, if held to the head of a pilot would accomplish the same purpose as a real gun--plastic or otherwise.

Simply put, this is just one more reason on a rapidly growing list of varied reasons to oppose the sale, manufacture and distribution of realistic looking toy firearms.

JERRY RUBIN

Venice