Transporting Airsoft Legally
 

Hello ASC

Recently, some local players informed me that as of November last year, it is required that one store and transport airsoft guns in a locked gun case, with trigger locks on the guns themselves. They have provided me with this link to support their claims: https://nfa.ca/news/supreme-court-ca...s-are-firearms

Now, before I go buying new cases and trigger locks for my guns, I would just like to check with the community here to ensure that the information I'm being provided is in fact, true.

I'm sorry if this question has been asked elsewhere.

The link doesn't support those claims, just read the articles.

You don't need trigger locks and locked cases. You just can't stuff it in a guitar case or backpack.

Lots of links in this thread. Read them all and then decide.

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=171023

Unfortunately I have not yet been age verified and therefor lack the permissions required to view that link. (Or at least I think that's why I'm not able to see it.)

Simply put
The article is designed to freak us out. Supreme Court ruling that Airsoft guns are firearms, that's nothing new. They've been considered firearms, which is why we could legally import them as they can't be replica firearms if they are on fact firearms.

The transportation guidelines are just "don't be a moron". Keep Airsoft guns in gun cases, not "concealed" like in a backpack or guitar case. Uncontrolled firearms are exempt from the storage and transportation laws outlined for non restricted and restricted firearms, so we don't need trigger locks etc. We just need common sense.

Quote from the RCMP:

'These air guns are exempt from the specific safe storage, transportation and handling requirements set out in the regulations supporting the Firearms Act. However, the Criminal Code requires that reasonable precautions be taken to use, carry, handle, store, transport and ship them in a safe and secure manner.'

source:http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/f...me_air-eng.htm

I'll recap it for you.

Once there was a group of firearms enthusiasts who felt people who owned airsoft were a group of sub human mongoloid short bus riding idiots who were doing as much damage to firearms ownership as Wendy Cukier. Any wiff of that and they were on a person with a flame war that was unceasing. It was like being outed as gay in the 40s.

One day a lawyer who was a driving force behind this group decided to take on a case of a welfare/workman's comp cheat/utter shitpump who also happened to be a phony gangster. He liked to use a Pellet Gun (not airsoft) to show how he was going to "pop a cap in yo ass yo". Unsurprisingly they lost and said shitpump was found guilty.

At that point they employed the cunning stunt of using their failure as a membership drive and their shills signed up on this very website to tell us that the only hope of "saving" airsoft in Canada was to pay them some money to defend us. They couldn't hide their condescension though so while explaining what a bunch children we were and didn't understand the real world they all had epic meltdowns and went away.

Short form, nothing has changed. Follow common sense rules. Transport it cased and otherwise out of sight. Don't brandish it in your front yard, and so on.

Non-restricted firearms don't even need trigger locks or cases to be transported. Although it's a good idea to keep it in a case (doesn't have to be a locked case)

Pesto, I thought that it was still alright if we stuff it into a backpack or a case for musical instruments. It makes more sense to carry it discreetly especially on public transit rather than bringing aboard a visible gun case. It should be okay as long as it is transported in a safe and non-visible manner right? Let me know if I'm wrong on this.

You better check the bus regs thoroughly. Firearms are often not permitted.

regardless of the law, hard cases are always a good idea for transporting and storing your airsoft guns.

AFAIK the TTC has a by-law prohibiting the transfer of airsoft guns on all TTC vehicles... but whether or not this is enforced and if the bus driver can tell apart a gun case from a guitar case is another story.

Usually, there's very little variation between transit companies so err on the safe side and consider it prohibited.

Didnt toronto ban firearms on public transport because the guy who shot up the university took the bus there with his rifle?
Airsoft guns are uncontrolled firearms, but still firearms.
Follow common sense, understand that everyone else is going to assume its a real gun. Transport it out of sight, theres an argument to using a guitar case though, arouses less suspicion and doesnt get people all jittery.

Yeah I know of that bylaw as well, but I either drive or hitch a ride when I'm in the GTA.

When I'm back in KW... gotta find an alternative method for getting 10+ people out to games. Maybe we can call GRT and charter a bus explaining that we're going to a paintball field and have them waive that policy... Otherwise it's taxis and trying to find carpools.

So does like nobody in toronto own a car? or what's the deal?

If they do, they can't drive it...I've driven through TO, and have witnessed this.

Carrying "discreetly" is the same as concealing. You are hiding what it is, as f it isn't supposed to be there. I walk on the street with a gun case and nobody cares. If you have a soft guitar case with something possibly gun shaped and obviously not a guitar, you might get in shit. TTC has a bylaw that prohibits Airsoft guns. GRT didn't have one, so I used to carry them on the buses. One driver got scared, so I explained everything to her and she was okay with it. I called afterward to clarify, and the GRT decided to ban them. I actually wrote a thread on this a few years back.

I'm pretty sure I read that thread. I disagree that discreetly = concealing though; I'm simply repurposing an old viola hard case. But yes... no more public transit I suppose :/

Another "how not to" candidate.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/car...697/story.html

Like using recreational drugs, concealing and unlawfully transporting a firearm is illegal. You may disagree with the law, you may think it's silly, you may find it inconvenient, but it's still illegal. If you choose to break the law, you have broken the law. If you don't get caught breaking the law, and especially if you're insulated by a group which also enjoys casually breaking the law, you're still breaking the law.

If you choose to break the law, as an adult, that's your choice.
HOWEVER, if you get caught breaking the law, you own it. You deserve whatever you get.
With unregulated firearms, you get the full brunt of criminal charges related to firearms. Or, you know, shot dead.
In addition, as with recreational drugs, bringing down heat on everyone around you by flashing your habit and taking unnecessary risks is both stupid and frowned upon.

1. Your idea of discreet IS concealing/misleading. Repurposing an old viola case is an attempt to hide what you're carrying.

2. Would you rather be approached and have a gun in a misleading case, arousing suspicion? Or would you rather have it in a proper case and appear responsible with nothing to hide?

3. Your opinion doesn't matter, the law is the law.

The point remains that regardless of the case, the airsoft gun isn't being allowed in the first place.

Obviously, some people don't have a choice (when I started airsoft I didnt' have a car).

Now if you choose to break that by-law and take it upon yourself to face the possible consequences, a guitar case is much less likely to draw attention than a gun case. I rode the subway plenty of times with camo pants, combat boots, a heavy metal tshirt, a backpack and a guitar case and nobody gave me a second look because the "look" all fit together. Don't put Magpul stickers and shit on your guitar case like a fucking idiot.

By contrast, if you're dressed casually with a locked gun case and looking around nervously because you're afraid someone will notice, you WILL draw attention to yourself.

Yeah, works great when you are prohibited from street parking in front of your house, had to pay $6/hr parking, had no parking anywhere near where you needed to be and ended up storing your car at your uncle's place in Scarborough.

Or, you ride the TTC. Or leave Toronto for someplace better, which is very easy to do.

You forgot the HOV lanes.

I gotta say, I've always hated the whole "I don't have" or "I disagree, so I'll do it anyways" attitude. As stated, the law is the law, period, done, full-stop. The fact that they are inconvenient or inadequate is irrelevant. Don't like the law? Well, you live in a free country, you can change it. Though it will take considerable work and backing, but it can be done.

If you're not supposed to transport airsoft guns on transit, then don't!. Not being able to afford a car, or being able to live elsewhere, or to take a cab every day, etc, is your problem. Don't play or own airsoft if you can't be accountable for it.

The only time it's ok to move an airsoft gun in a violin case is if it's a Tommy Gun, and then you've got to be wearing a pinstripe suit with a carnation in the lapel. And possibly a fedora.

But seriously though, having realistic looking assault weapons on public transit is a good way to get arrested or shot, or at least bring a lot of negative attention to airsoft. Take a taxi, pay gas money to your buddies, figure it out.

Ride a bicycle even.