[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

And, in Canada, a soft metal replica 30 cal. Browning displayed on a restored WW2 vehicle at an air show is considered exactly the same as a plastic .357 Smith & Wesson held by a Toronto downtown 'yuth'.

Originally Posted by rob love

If the gun shoots over 500 feet per second, and has over 5.7 joules of force, then it is considered a firearm that requires a license to have. But if it is under 500 fps, but can cause bodily harm, then it is a weapon that does not need to be licensed. If it shoots under 368 (recently reduced from 400 fps) and closely copies the look of a real firearm, then it is a replica. Replicas are in a special prohibited class in Canada.

That was because too often, Canada's misguided youth would use them for fundraising efforts, during which the police would often shoot these misguided youth. The mother would then wail that the police should have checked the gun first or else shot it out of their had before shooting their poor son, who was just turning their life around.

As a result of these events, the chiefs of police in Canada requested that replicas be banned for sale, manufacture, and import.

Deactivated firearms, however, are in their own class. They do not require registration, safe storage, transport regulations, and can be bought or sold to anyone. They are usually expensive, however, which is probably why the poor misguided youth don't get into trouble with them.

Clear as mud?