Mounties called social workers after they say a mother allowed her five children to shoot pellets at moving traffic while she was driving on Tuesday in Kelowna, B.C.
Police say the passengers, aged 11 to 16, pointed the gun at motorists and shot pellets in the air from the moving vehicle though rural area, scaring other drivers.
Police tracked down the vehicle after a complaint and seized three Stinger P311s pellet guns, which officers say can be purchased at a dollar store and resemble military pistols.
"These guns look really real, and they feel really real," Sgt. Ann Morrison told ctvbc.ca.
No injures were reported in connection to this event, but police say the potential for a serious and devastating accident is enormous.
The mother, who was in control of the youngsters at the time, admitted she knew they were firing pellets outside the vehicle, but seemed unaware of the possible consequences to other drivers of allowing this behaviour, Morrison told ctvbc.ca.
Police say the mother thought the children were only shooting at road signs. Investigators say that at least three of the youngsters are her children.
Kelowna RCMP referred the case to the Ministry of Children and Family Development based on the seriousness of the event.
