Can you tell the difference? Replica handgun sparks major police response in Stratford

Dave Frei of the Stratford Police Service holds a service-issued handgun alongside a replica airsoft version. With both appearing nearly identical, police are asking: can you tell which one is real and which one is a replica?

What was initially reported as a man carrying a handgun in Stratford last month turned into something quite different – but not before prompting a large police response and raising ongoing concerns about realistic replica firearms in the community.

On March 26 at approximately 12:30 p.m., the Stratford Police Service received a report of a male walking along Devon Street while carrying and racking what appeared to be a black handgun. Officers quickly responded, alongside members of the Ontario Provincial Police, and the area was temporarily shut down as they worked to locate the individual.

In total, 12 officers were involved in the response, which lasted roughly eight hours.

As it turned out, the weapon was not a real firearm, but an airsoft or BB gun designed as a direct replica of a Glock pistol.

“The investigation throughout the day revealed that the handgun was actually a pellet gun,” said Darren Fischer, community resource and media relations officer. “This is a growing concern, as it’s happening on a more regular basis, and to some degree, these pellet guns are more realistic looking and becoming much more prevalent within the community.”

While pellet and airsoft guns may not meet the legal definition of a firearm under the Criminal Code of Canada, they can look nearly identical to the real thing, said Fischer.

In some cases, even the movement and mechanics – like the racking action – closely mimic an actual handgun, despite serving little purpose for the device itself.

For police responding to a call, they treat any threat as if it could be a real handgun.

“When that call comes in, we ultimately don't know if that's a real handgun or a pellet gun or some other type of replica firearm, so we have to treat every incident as if it's a real handgun until we're able to determine otherwise,” Fischer said.

In this case, the individual was cooperative and no criminal charges were laid, though police noted there may still be court-related conditions and this individual may lose his right to own a firearm in the future.

But incidents like this don’t come without impact. A call of this nature requires a significant police presence, pulling resources and time into what officers must treat as a potentially high-risk situation.

Police say the realism of these replica guns is making their job increasingly difficult. In a recent demonstration, these seized pellet guns were placed alongside service-issued firearms, which shows that both are almost identical to each other.

There are currently no consistent regulations governing the sale of replica firearms, other than that purchasers must be over 18, and retailers are not required to follow specific guidelines.

To address the issue, the Stratford Police Service is working on an educational initiative, including an information guide for residents who purchase airsoft or replica guns. The goal is to promote safe handling and to discourage people from carrying these items in public.

“Ultimately, we want to provide information that's going to help individuals be able to utilize these devices in a safe manner and allow them to recognize what the possible repercussions are in regards to police response,” Fischer said. “Hopefully, this can prevent further incidents from happening.”

Police are also reminding residents that a city bylaw prohibits the use of pellet guns, BB guns and similar weapons within Stratford city limits.