By Kenneth Lipp
Last Thursday the Philadelphia City Council passed an ordinance amending Chapter 10-80 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Safety,” by prohibiting the sale, possession, or use of toy or imitation firearms which substantially duplicate or can be reasonably perceived to be actual firearms.”
The bill’s text goes on to describe what constitutes a reasonable substantial duplicate, which is basically anything that’s not obviously a toy. The ordinance also outlaws toy guns with laser pointers and requires manufacturers to stamp or otherwise mark their products such that novelty weapons can easily be identified by maker.
We reported recently on a Police Advisory Commission report to the City Council regarding officer-involved shootings where the subject had BB guns or air rifles.
The law does not stop people from buying toy guns in other jurisdictions and bringing them to Philadelphia.
The Philly Declaration 
