A Little Shady

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

But a wrong-un could by the same logic paint a legit firearm to look blue/orange/green/pink etc. to also fool armed police into thinking it wasn't real - when in fact it was.

I think in that case, regardless of what colour the gun was, if he had pointed that gun at the officer instead of throwing it to the ground, the officer probably would have shot him.