Cloquet Police Urge Participants of “Nerf Wars” To Use Common Sense

I had never heard of such a thing, "nerf wars".  Our nerf options were pretty slim when I was a child, a round ball or a football.  That's it, no gun or nerf pellets.  These "toys" are causing quite a stir in the City of Cloquet with something called "Nerf Wars" and local law enforcement is making some important suggestions that participants need to know before playing.

I realize that this is probably pretty innocent, but the CPD has some very valid points.  If you're an adult reading this blog and know of some kids that will be involved with "nerf wars", please share the following information.

The Cloquet Police Department found out that a nerf war was to start in their community today.  Just like paint ball, many consider “Nerf wars” a competitive sport or activity.  Basically, the object of the game is to eliminate the other players or teams by “killing” them, this is done 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.  To ensure driving safety for the players and the other drivers on the road, don't play in a moving motor vehicle, whether you're the driver or a passenger.  Players caught violating traffic laws, including shooting or throwing objects from a motor vehicle, may be cited and/or arrested.

It's been noted that when this game was played in other communities, participants  entered other players houses unannounced with the intent 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.

Finally, remember, 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.