Legal Airsoft for Sale in Canada

The manager of an airsoft gun and equipment store in Waterloo says the sport is being unfairly targeted by Canada'due south new gun control legislation.

Ziming Wan, managing director of BlackBlitz Airsoft, demonstrates an airsoft rifle at the testing range in Waterloo store. (Joe Pavia/CBC)

Ziming Wan, manager of BlackBlitz Airsoft, demonstrates an airsoft rifle at the testing range in Waterloo store. (Joe Pavia/CBC) 0:58

The manager of an airsoft gun and equipment store in Waterloo says the sport is existence unfairly targeted past Canada's new gun control legislation.

Pecker C-21, is currently being debated in the House of Eatables. Its goal, according to Federal Minister of Public Safety Pecker Blair, is to "terminate the proliferation, importation, export or sale of those replica firearms that exactly resemble regulated firearms and belch projectiles at a dangerous velocity," said his function in an emailed statement to CBC G-W.

The statement said when it becomes law, Nib C-21 volition not touch "law-abiding owners and sport shooters." And air guns — or airsoft guns — "that do not exactly replicate an existing firearm are not prohibited."

But Ziming Wan, who manages the BlackBlitz Airsoft store in Waterloo, says the legislation didn't clearly country that when the bill was presented in its first reading and he worries it will ultimately lead to the banning of replica paintball guns and airsoft guns used past gamers across the country.

"If the bill passes in its current state, this business will shut down. I volition lose my job. The owner will lose everything. Our five employees will all lose their jobs," said Wan.

Sgt. David Caron with Guelph Law Service says the challenge for police is many officers wouldn't know if a gun was a replica or real until they handled it for themselves. (Joe Pavia/CBC)

"All this [stock] would be prohibited from being sold, transferred or exported in Canada. Then it becomes dead inventory that we tin can't even liquidate."

Real vs. replica

Airsoft is a pop simulated military combat game — essentially a game of tag with fake weapons, said Wan. It'southward played in either pocket-size groups or weekend events that, earlier the pandemic, could involve up to 500 people.

The object of the game is like to paintball and played at paintball fields. Players wear protection, including goggles or safety glasses, and instead of paintballs airsoft players shoot pocket-size plastic biodegradable pellets at each other.

Sgt. David Caron, who played paintball when he was younger says "in the right surroundings, with the right people it can be a prophylactic sport."

Only in his work with Guelph Police force's Tactics and Rescue Unit, he knows outset-hand that replica guns are a challenge for police services across North America.

"In that location's been a number of investigations I've been involved in where until I actually start handling the firearm to prove information technology safe, I don't even know at the fourth dimension picking it up and putting information technology in my hand if it's real or if it'due south a replica," said Caron.

"They are so real looking, said Caron. "They have the logo of the manufacturer and serial numbers and so you can't tell the deviation."

He says law accept every gun call seriously — whether it'southward shots fired or a citizen spotting someone in their neighbourhood walking downwardly the street holding a gun that may be fake.

The airsoft game uses pocket-size biodegradable pellets. (Joe Pavia/CBC)

Petition for change

Wan believes including airsoft guns nether the replica ban essentially criminalizes the sport, and he wants to run into the manufacture pushing for full legalization.

"There was no consultation with the industry before [the government] did this," said Wan. "Airsoft toys are non a threat to public prophylactic. They are made then you can play with your friends and not hurt your friends. All airsoft stores in Canada are small businesses and they can't have blows like this."

Airsoft groups beyond the state have started e-petitions request the government to remove airsoft guns from Bill C-21.

More than than l,000 people accept signed through a Change.org petition and one hosted on the Business firm of Commons website.