"Person shaped" Silhouette targets - Illegal?

Inno said:
I got into a debate with a couple friends of mine regarding the use of "human shaped" silhouette targets.

My friends claimed that it was illegal to use "human shaped" silhouette targets. Although I can understand an actual image of a person (even those age old "hostage" pop up targets) would be illegal or heavily frowned upon, I do not see how the Silhouette target would be illegal.

NOTE: all 3 of us are PAL licensed (restricted and non restricted)

My argument is that I was recently at a range and was able to purchase a few "human shaped" silhouette targets without issue and proceeded to practice my shots as I am training for the LEO career I wish to pursue.

The reason this debate came up is I have an opportunity to purchase bulk paper targets that will offer me generous savings opposed to the $3.00 a target at the range. I dont want to buy in on this if it can become a legal issue.

Any insight and actual legal sources welcomed as I want to get to the bottom of this. I have searched on google and only found "clubs" and certain ranges frowned on them as they resembled people too much and the general public thinks that those who use silhouettes are terrorists in training.
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Nothing in law determines the legality of targets. Many clubs choose for themselves what is or is not in good taste. Some will even invoke the CFO when doing so, although I have never seen any club be able to prove that the CFO has ever put limitations on targets by showing official correspondence.

My club says drawings, caricatures, illustrations, graphical representations of silhouettes, people and zombies are good to go, but not actual photos or posters.
 
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At Selkirk Fish and Game in Manitoba we have no rules of the sort. I usually just shoot at simple circular targets on old, flat moving boxes (I'm a furniture mover). Before I saw this thread I never even thought that shooting at silhouette human targets would be a problem.
 
One range I go to sells silhouette targets, never heard of it being a problem at another I'm a member at, and my third club...have no idea, have never seen another person there, so unless I offend myself, I'm not worried about it. Stupid anyways.
 
I believe the NRA B-27 is still in use; both the 50 yd and the 25 yd versions. I also believe the targets were designed for law enforcement marksmanship training and PPC (Practical Police Combat) competition. Any restrictions on their otherwise use is purely local and political.
Ex PPC Master Classification
I miss my old Bill Davis PPC Gun
 
My range allows silhouettes as well as characters like a bank robber etc. and even sells them at the range

they DO NOT allow likenesses of real people whether they be political figures/family members/friends/bosses etc. but if it's a zombie or a bank robber or silhouette character you're all good.
 
No it's not illegal to have human shaped targets but why not make up another fake law?
We Canadian gun owners love to be ruled and regulated.
Don't we?

Had one self appointed r/o (aka range nazi) tell me the other day that i was committing a criminal offense if I fully loaded a revolver on the firing line at a range and didn't leave 1 chamber empty to 'hammer over'.
Believe it or not ripley.
 
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If they're ok with zombies silhouettes, the next time you go out with your silouette'd one's, take a magic marker and write "ZOMBIE" above the head of the target. You should be all good after that.
 
I don't believe there is any legislation restricting human-shaped targets, but it does boil down to good judgement and what would be viewed as acceptable in a community. Our club allows IPSC and IDPA targets which are vaguely "humanoid" in shape, plus during new member orientation, we advise members that that can use other targets so long as the target is not a recognizable likeness of a specific person. Shooting at cartoon zombies, bug targets, or pictures of game animals is acceptable to our club.

Anyone shooting at a picture of a politician, a current or former spouse, or any other person would have their judgement called seriously into question at our club, and I agree completely with this as it is likely to have us and our sport dragged into disrepute unnecessarily yet again.

But, if it's your own land and your own range, your selection of targets is, and should be, your call!
 
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