Japanese police are calling on people who have a so-called toy gun that can fire real bullets to surrender them by the end of this year or possibly face charges.

The gun in question is the Chinese-made Real Gimmick Mini Revolver. It has been given as a prize in claw machines, and circulated through other channels across Japan since around last December.

The National Police Agency says about 15,800 units have been distributed. Police had set a period from July to the year's end for turning them in. They say they had recovered only around 4,000 units as of the end of November.

Police are strongly urging people who possess the plastic gun not to dispose of them on their own but to surrender them by the end of December.
Police warn that, from next year, anyone found possessing or importing the plastic gun could be charged with violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Law.

The father of a 9-year-old boy who got one of the toy guns at a game arcade said it is really scary that such dangerous things were distributed to children.

He also said possession could amount to violation of the law and he felt it was like a trap.

Police say the period to hand in 16 other similar types of Chinese-made guns has already ended. There are instances in which investigators have raided homes and other locations to seize those products.