Albert Lea should follow the examples set by Minneapolis and St. Paul concerning fake guns.

Minneapolis last week approved restricting fake guns. It says people can&8217;t carry fake guns or air guns or have them in their cars except under certain special circumstances.

St. Paul earlier this year restricted &8220;real-looking&8221; guns.

The two cities have taken a lead nationwide on restricting look-alike weapons. Eventually, more cities will follow their lead, and no doubt the issue will come to Albert Lea and Austin, too.

Criminals are using imposter guns &8212; such as strikingly real toy guns or paintball guns &8212; because they are easier to acquire than real guns. The bad guys can frighten people on the same level as real guns but they receive lesser punishments if caught using them.

Furthermore, toy guns in school have only created problems for school administrators nationwide.

If the legislators are unwilling to pass laws that equal the punishments for committing crimes with fake guns and real guns, then it only makes sense for cities to step forward and restrict replica guns.

And the ordinances do not impinge on Second Amendment rights because, obviously, carrying fake guns is not bearing arms.