Airsoft Canada

[GMR-Mole]

Hey Everyone!

My name's Mole, I'm from the North Eastern Airsoft Group from the U.S.
I'm with a team called the Green Mountain Rangers, out of Vermont.

I was just wondering about Airsoft Canada, and how everyone up there plays?
I don't know if they are the same rules as down here, or if the rules are field based???

Also, what kind of regulations do you have in Canada? Could an airsoft gun be brought across the border??

I saw that there were some strange laws about airsoft in Canada and about how certain magazines were allowed, while others weren't.

I was just wondering if you have any players come across the border from the U.S to play? It would be nice to come across the border and play with some of you!

Anyways, if anyone is ever interested, our boards are over at www.neasg.org.

We have a couple of big games coming up this spring. If you have any games coming up, near Montreal Area, post them up here!!

Mole
Green Mountain Rangers
Operation Irene III Veteran Charlie 03-03

[Mysteryfish]

Hi Mole,
Nice to meet you! (sortof - y'know - internet and stuff)

Off the top of my head:

- It might be one thing taking our guns that way across the border, but getting them back is unlikely. Importing guns here usually results in confiscation. To reiterate, it's a "touchy subject", and most people aren't willing to risk going across the border with our gear. I speak generally of course.

- Rules are field based (general rules like "eye protection" and "safe gun handling" are mandatory of course)

- The laws don't apply to magazines for airsoft, I think you may have read about Canadian regulations on magazines for restricted rifles and pistols (limited to 5 and 10 rounds respectively ... I believe. Anyone more knowledgeable feel free to correct me)

- Limitations on airsoft are difficult to describe here:

Most of the difficulty comes from simply getting items into Canada. Once they're here, there's really no rules about them, besides ensuring they fire under a certain energy (like pellet guns) to ensure they aren't classified as "firearms". Beyond that, it's simply a matter of discretion.

Thanks for the invitation, and although I'm sure many of us are willing and enthusiastic about the idea of coming down to play, as it stands, most of us are very cautious about even travelling within Canada with our airsoft, so I think (despite the interest), it's more likely that many of us will play it safe and unfortunately pass on the offer.

What WOULD work is arranging a meet whereby loaned equipment was available... but that's something else entirely.

Anyhow, enjoy ASC.

[Greylocks]

Please read our Information section.

[GMR-Mole]

I understand, that's alright!

I know down here, you can fly out your guns with you on airplanes. But I wonder what would happen if I flew up into Canada with them.....

hmmm...

I'll contact the FAA and see what they say!

Hope to talk to you all soon!


Mole
North Eastern Airsoft Group
Green Mountain Rangers
Operation Irene III Veteran- C0303

[DoctorDeath]

I think mags with fake rounds in them will sometimes be confiscated by customs. That might be what he means by some mags being illegal.

[Sgt_Lynch]

Originally Posted by GMR-Mole

I'll contact the FAA and see what they say!

Don't call the FAA, call Canada Customs. You may be able to get a temporary import permit (don't know the official name) that will allow you to bring them in as long as they all leave with you when you depart.

Lynch

[Skruface]

Originally Posted by GMR-Mole

I know down here, you can fly out your guns with you on airplanes. But I wonder what would happen if I flew up into Canada with them.....

Under our laws, if you were lucky you would only have your guns confisicated and be refused entry into the country, not to mention being blacklisted by Canada Customs as a suspected smuggler. If you were unlucky, you would likely be charged with Possession of a Prohibited Device (replicas are considered Prohibited devices, just like full-auto firearms and certain pistols) and maybe even arrested and sent to meet Bubba from Cell Block B for upwards of 5 years (less with good behaviour) or deported to serve your time in the US.

[Greylocks]

There's only one sad answer right now; forget airsoft even exists in Canada, and dont cross the border with any. In either direction.

[ppimppanda]

import permits are expensive i think

[pugs144]

Originally Posted by ppimppanda

import permits are expensive i think

[Greylocks]

Oh dear god... ppimppanda, please, stop typing for a while?

[Dracheous]

Originally Posted by Greylocks

Oh dear god... ppimppanda, please, stop typing for a while?

lol... no no keep going, we gotta get Greylocks back in line here. He did miss that kid that changed his age when the arguement was against him being a minor :P


Just kidding Greylocks...


And the permit to take guns across the border only works for Regristered guns if you Canadian, and they have to be NON-restricted guns. And then you have to apply to State law as well, make sure its a NON-restricted fire arm, in what ever state you intend to pass through. And the only permit you can get for bringing them in if they are Restricted, is that they are not prohibited and you are MOVING to Canada, IE. its not going there and then coming back or hopping the fence.

And you have to start trying to get this in advance, long into advance. I think my Uncle Jack gets the permit almost 4-6 months in advance of going down to the states to go Hunting... I think the last two years he's been just using a rifle that a relative owns down there were they hunt. Don't know... I was content with the white tail here in Ontario... thats just me...


EDIT: I should say "NON-Restriced 'FIRE'-arms"

[mcguyver]

There is no "permit" to take your "replica firearm" out of Canada and then back again. The CFC site is quite clear that you can take it out of Canada no questions asked, but can't bring it back with you.

My mother has a home in Arizona, so if I wanted to play in the States, I would need to buy an AEG there and leave it behind when I come home. It's the only legal way.

Unless you are a business with a license to import and possess replica firearms for motion picture production. But no individual person in Canada can hold that license. Only a business.

[Valkyrie]

Even if we did take our guns down, wouldn't we have to paint the barrels orange or something?

[mcguyver]

No. Orange barrel or other gun painting means nothing in Canada. It's a U.S. requirement.