No matter the country, gun laws as put forth by politicians rarely make any sense. In the U.S., the restrictions on handguns are fairly reasonable in regards to barrel length and caliber. When it comes to long guns (if I remember correctly), shotgun barrels can to be no shorter than 18 inches to be legal and rifle barrels no shorter than 16 inches (you can apply for a special license to own one though). In Canada, I believe the laws about handguns are much more restrictive, yet owning a rifle with a 12 inch barrel is perfectly legal.

For example, Rossi Firearms (now Braztech/Taurus) has a very popular model they call the "Ranch Hand". It is basically a modernized replica of the Winchester Model 1892 rifle with a 12 inch barrel, large loop lever and very abbreviated butt stock. (This configuration is also known as a "Mare's Leg"). It comes in .38Sp/.357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. . It's legal here because it is sold as a handgun and not a rifle. Now, in Canada, I believe it's perfectly legal to add a full length butt stock to one and end up with a very handy, "Trapper" rifle. Get caught doing that here and you are in deep shit.

WTF!!! ADDING 6 inches to the butt makes it more dangerous somehow?! Why, because it's HARDER to conceal? Yet, it's perfectly legal to carry a pocket pistol with a half inch barrel that fits in the coin pocket of your Levi's? It doesn't make any damn sense!

But what do I know? I'm just a law abiding citizen....

J