CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - Cedar Rapids has tightened its laws on toy guns at the urging of police, who say the guns are realistic replicas of real firearms and are being used in crimes. Earlier this year, the City Council made it a misdemeanor offense to carry a loaded BB gun, air gun or pellet gun in the city limits. Juveniles can't have the guns at all unless they are under adult supervision.

Before the change, it was only illegal to discharge a BB gun or similar toy guns in the city requiring officers to catch people in
the act.

Under the new ordinance, the penalty for carrying any loaded weapon in the city, including toy guns, is up to a $625 fine and 30 days in jail.