a gun is a gun in the police officers eyes.
I once as a kid shooting my POP gun was LOUD age 10 tops or so got stopped by a police officer in my 1000 population hometown in say 1980 just hoarsing around in front of my parents house. It looked like a REAL gun from a distance but when I cocked it and pulled the trigger it made a big POP/BARK. Am surprised the cop in our one hoarse town did not arrest me?

I still have that POP gun rifle is all rusted now but still works saw it the other day at my moms house.