[made Man]

got this from CGN.

Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Language of the online advertisements is caressing and persuasive, describing models as sleek, finely detailed or rugged.

Replica weapons sold in Canada are supposedly used for target practice or paintball. But Victoria police, along with other police departments, regularly faces realistic fake guns on the street and have to make split-second decisions on how to react to someone who could be toting a toy or a weapon capable of killing.

Police are confiscating at least one fake weapon a week and fear it is only a matter of time before someone dies.

There's no difficulty in getting hold of anything from a fake grenade launcher (complete with plastic tipped "grenades") to a vicious-appearing assault rifle.

The guns are available online, usually with a caution that they cannot be sold to anyone under 18, and also at local chain stores and sports stores.

Realism of appearance is paramount, and performance is judged on similarity to real weapons, according to online advertisements for the replica guns.

"Large guns -- reach out and smack someone," says one.

"If you are serious about sniper warfare, there's no better weapon."

"The weapon also produces a satisfactory crack when fired."

A Wal-Mart Canada spokesman said the company will review its policies, following pleas by Victoria police for replica weapons to be kept off the streets.

"We will certainly take a look at it. We do try and be extremely sensitive to these issues of violence, especially when a local issue is brought to our attention," said Andrew Pelletier, Wal-Mart Canada vice president of corporate affairs.

No complaints have been received from Victoria, he said.

"But we will review it and, if it's appropriate to make an adjustment, we will make an adjustment."

Canadian Tire spokesmen could not be contacted yesterday.

Island Outfitters is one local sports store selling realistic-looking pellet guns.

"People buy them for targets," said cashier Chelsea Brown. "It's mostly younger guys that buy them, and usually parents come in with the kids."

Purchasers are warned to wear protective eyewear and not to carry the guns in public, Brown said.

Neil Boyd, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University, said young men appear to be carrying the weapons because they can be intimidating without the inherent risks of carrying a real weapon.

"It's a macho reference point. It allows them to play a certain role."

Unless someone belongs to a target-shooting club, there appears to be little reason for replica weapons to be carried in urban areas, Boyd said.

If replica guns are used during commission of a crime, they are treated by the courts in the same way as a real weapon. If someone is directly threatening he can be charged with uttering threats, said Victoria police Insp. Les Sylven.

However, simply carrying a replica gun is not illegal.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has twice called for the manufacture, sale and possession of replica guns to be prohibited and the Canada Safety Council has asked the federal government to bring fake weapons and pellet guns under the Hazardous Products Act.

jlavoie@tc.canwest.com

Now, which website has

"Large guns -- reach out and smack someone,"

in the picture/link? 3 guesses.