Albany County authorities apprehend an 18-year-old man late Friday night after discovering he possessed a flare gun modified to fire bullets, raising alarms about an emerging trend in illegal weapon modifications. Sheriff Craig Apple confirms the flare gun was found loaded with a .40-caliber round, which could potentially cause serious harm, reflecting a growing concern as these devices, originally intended for maritime distress signals, are increasingly altered for illegal uses.
Authorities note that modified flare guns have been linked to several incidents in the region, including a robbery attempt and previous shootings involving similar weapons. The trend follows heightened police scrutiny of ghost guns and illegal firearm purchases, prompting fears of a broader increase in such dangerous modifications, as evidenced by recent reports of incidents across New York State.
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