So is it legal?

[MacG!ver]

I read the article on the 007airsoft store (written 2002/03), saying airsoft in canada is pretty much in a legal "gray zone", ie. laws are condradicting each other.

Fast forward 5 years to the present. Whats the current situation? If i'm gonna spend $500 on an airsoft rifle, I don't want it to be seized or get in trouble for it. I realize you should only use/display them in airsoft fields/areas...but can anyone update or clarify?

Thanks.

Read. Then read more. Then read more. FAQ please.

[Donster]

basically, airsoft in principle is legal; that is guns that shoot 500fps or less and 5.7J of muzzle energy or less. what makes the sport illegal is that our guns are replicas of real firearms in that they are 1:1 scale models of firearms that already do exist. so while it is not illegal to to play airsoft, or own airsoft, it is illegal to import it. that being said, if you shoot someone with an airsoft gun (even a clearsoft) you will be tried as it it were a real gun. i have read this forum AND the canadian laws referring to this subject specifically.

[enigmahack]

Misread post, you had it right...
Le Sigh. lol

[Donster]

Originally Posted by enigmahack

Misread post, you had it right...
Le Sigh. lol

its CDN_Stalker, the best sniper in airsoft. i would love to meet that guy and be his spotter. but that is neither here nor there. if you read my post, i do include the AND in between the fps and the Joules.

Edit: just posted this and saw what you posted. my slow typing does me in again. my apologies

[MacG!ver]

Originally Posted by DONSTER 125

basically, airsoft in principle is legal; that is guns that shoot 500fps or less and 5.7J of muzzle energy or less. what makes the sport illegal is that our guns are replicas of real firearms in that they are 1:1 scale models of firearms that already do exist. so while it is not illegal to to play airsoft, or own airsoft, it is illegal to import it. that being said, if you shoot someone with an airsoft gun (even a clearsoft) you will be tried as it it were a real gun. i have read this forum AND the canadian laws referring to this subject specifically.

Would you mind showing/telling me what exact law states that it is legal to own & play airsoft? Just to appease some people. Don't bother if its too much effort or you don't remember.

[Styrak]

There isn't one.

Along the same line though, where is the law to say you can eat meatballs on Tueday in the shower? A little different, but same idea. It only matters if there's a law that says you can't.

[The Saint]

Originally Posted by MacG!ver

Would you mind showing/telling me what exact law states that it is legal to own & play airsoft? Just to appease some people. Don't bother if its too much effort or you don't remember.

http://ttac3.factoronto.com/legal.htm

If you don't believe the above, you can compare it to this:

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowFullDoc/cs/C-46///en

[MacG!ver]

Originally Posted by Styrak

There isn't one.

Along the same line though, where is the law to say you can eat meatballs on Tueday in the shower? A little different, but same idea. It only matters if there's a law that says you can't.

Hmm I see your point. I'm only worried because I hear of people getting their gun seized (not from importing).

[Styrak]

Originally Posted by MacG!ver

Hmm I see your point. I'm only worried because I hear of people getting their gun seized (not from importing).

Where are you hearing this? If you're using it correctly and responsibly, and not being an idiot with it, there is pretty much 0% chance of it somehow getting "seized".

[Crunchmeister]

Guns only get seized when they are used improperly in accordance with the law, such as brandishing a weapon in public. Otherwise, there's no reason to seize guns from private citizens.

[TokyoSeven]

Originally Posted by MacG!ver

Would you mind showing/telling me what exact law states that it is legal to own & play airsoft? Just to appease some people. Don't bother if its too much effort or you don't remember.

Now this is where your quiery starts to become a somewhat complicated issue. The complication is applied when we look at the term replica. The Canadian border services agencie restricts the importation of anything that bares resemblence to that of a firearm, but when it comes to the terms of replca in a court of law, airsoft guns are considered firearms, now thats when we examine the details of what makes a firearm, how fast it can propel an object and at what joule. As my details are no exact, essentially it is the jist of the deal. When you throw it all together, Canada is not a very friendly place to try and get into airsoft.

As an example:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...f5044-eng.html

As stated on this website the CBSA will consider the majority of airsoft guns as replicas.

[MacG!ver]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Where are you hearing this? If you're using it correctly and responsibly, and not being an idiot with it, there is pretty much 0% chance of it somehow getting "seized".

Lol, yes the dude was being a bit dumb...he played in a field and a pedestrian saw him and called the cops etc., and you guys royally grilled him about it (as you should).

So my question is...I'm basically going to spend $500 on a toy gun that I have to hide from "the public" and can only be seen with it & and use it at airsoft fields/ranges? Seems kind of sad...I really don't know what else to call it. Tempting nonetheless though.

Originally Posted by TokyoSeven

As stated on this website the CBSA will consider the majority of airsoft guns as replicas.

So...that means what exactly? This only affects importation of it (and when you shoot people)?

[Styrak]

If you want to play real airsoft, that's how it is. You can also use it in your house/basement you know.

[TokyoSeven]

Originally Posted by MacG!ver

So...that means what exactly?

It means that if it looks like a gun, they are going to take it away. That means color, trades and so forth. If its a clear plastic soft air gun, then no you should not have any issues.