2009 Fanime Weapons Policy (read first post before posting)

Started by Steve.Young, May 10, 2009, 11:23:43 PM

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Steve.Young

Fanime 2009 Weapons Policy
                  Fanime Rovers

WEAPONS qualify as:
•   Anything that looks like or resembles a danger to anyone, including law enforcement, from 20 feet away, under any conditions.
•   If there is a reasonable chance the object may cause physical harm, could be used to cause physical harm, or could make a person believe they could come to harm.
•   Anything that could be used in a menacing manner.
The effectiveness of the object or the skill of the person in possession of the object is not relevant when determining
whether or not the object is a weapon.
Prohibited Weapons:
Real weapons are not permitted.
Live Steel
Live steel is not permitted.  Live steel is defined as swords, knives, or other objects made of metal that can take an edge.  Dull metal weapons are considered live steel, and therefore are not permitted.  Live steel in a scabbard or protective cover is still not permitted.
Guns and Projectile Weapons
Guns and projectile weapons of any kind are not permitted.  Examples of guns and projectile weapons include, but are not
limited to, live guns, live gun replicas, pellet, BB, airsoft, dart, water, blowguns, or crossbows. 
Flail Weapons
Flail weapons are not permitted. Examples of flail weapons include, but are not limited to, whips, floggers, maces, nunchaku, and any weapon with attached moving parts. 
Incendiary Devices
Incendiary devices are not permitted.  All devices which spark, shoot flame, burn, smolder, can otherwise self-initiate
combustion, or which exist for no purpose other than to be lit with a combustion device, are considered incendiary devices.
Concealed Weapons
No concealed weapons. (This is State Law)
Permitted Weapons:
All permitted weapons shall be subject to approval by SoS staff.
Prop/Toys Guns
Prop guns that are easily identifiable as toys, provided the prop gun possess no moving parts and is clearly marked with a non-removable orange tip or colored in a bright safety color shall be permitted.
Prop Flail Weapons
Prop flail weapons made of foam and/or paper shall be permitted so long as they are ornamental and in no way used as offensive or defensive weapons.
Staves, Staffs, Wooden Swords
Staves, bo sticks, boken, shinai, and wooden swords shall be considered prop weapons and shall be permitted so long as they are ornamental and in no way used as weapons.
Purchasing a Weapon
•   All weapon sales shall follow Federal, State and Local laws and statutes.
•   Weapons shall not be sold to minors.
•   All weapons sold shall be in a box, bag or other device rendering it ineffective and inaccessible and shall remain within applicable laws for concealed weapons.
•   Weapons shall not be carried around loose. 
•   If a weapon is purchased at an event, you shall remove the weapon from convention-occupied space or, if the weapon meets the requirements to be peace-bonded, shall have the weapon peace-bonded.
Carrying a Weapon
•   In order to carry a weapon at the convention, you must be in costume. 
•   All weapons that are carried, either in hand or on/in a costume, must meet the requirements to be peace-bonded or must be peace-bonded.   
Masquerade
•   Staff, guests, and members who are participating in Masquerade and wish to use a weapon that is not permitted shall contact the Rovers Office for approval. 
•   Any weapon approved for Masquerade but not approved for the general convention shall be securely transported to Masquerade in a box, bag or other device rendering it ineffective and inaccessible. 
•   Once at Masquerade, the weapon shall be checked-in with the Masquerade Weapons Master. 
•   When the individual participating in Masquerade is ready to perform, the individual shall checkout the weapon from the Masquerade Weapons Master. 
•   Once the performance is over, the individual shall check the weapon back in with the Masquerade Weapons Master. 
•   The Masquerade Weapon Master shall maintain the weapon until the end of Masquerade. 
•   When Masquerade is over, the individual shall pick up their weapon from the Masquerade Weapons Master and securely transport the weapon back to their hotel room or vehicle.
Violations of Weapons Policy
Violations include but are not limited to:
•   Carrying a weapon that does not meet the requirements to be peace-bonded
•   Failure to have a weapon peace-bonded,
•   Removing the peace-bonded tag on a weapon
•   Brandishing a weapon
Violations of the Weapons Policy shall result in disciplinary action including but not limited to:
•   A verbal warning
•   Expulsion from the convention
•   Reporting you to the local authorities
•   
Peace-Bonding
Who: Any staff, guest, or member who wishes to carry a weapon as part of their costume shall have that weapon peace-bonded.  This is regardless of any training, credentials, age, maturity, or status as a general member, staff member, or guest.

What: Peace-bonding is the process of approving a weapon to be carried by staff, guest, or member who is in costume.   

When: Peace-bonding shall be done as soon as possible after entering convention-occupied space. This includes all public hallways of the hotels, anywhere in the convention center, and any space set aside for convention use.

Where: Peace-bond stations are be located at the exit to Dealer's hall and all Info booths.

How: Peace-bonding is done by having a Rovers member examine the weapon in question to ensure that the weapons meets the requirements and guidelines set forth by the Weapons Policy.  Weapons that meet the Fanime Weapons Policy requirements and guidelines shall be tagged with a non-destructive peace-bonding tag.  Tagging the weapon tells Fanime staff that you have read, understand, and agree to follow the Weapons Policy and that the weapon is approved to be carried at the convention. Subject to Rover oversight, review, and discretion.
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Please PM me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Steve[AT]Fanime[DOT]Com

Rodney_Pheonix

I'm not completely sure, but is an airsoft gun, that has been gutted so it is unable to fire allowable, or would I have to go the extra step of super gluing the magazine, and slide into a locked position?
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A young Sidrovich?
HL2 Combine (concept art trenchcoat one)
Something something....no idea yet.

Steve.Young

See, that would be in the realm of...how real does it look and what are you using it as? A prop or accessory?

If you have a question, please send an email to Rovers @ Fanime.com

with a picture of the said weapon.
Director of Marketing
Staff Moderator - Fanime Forums.

Please PM me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Steve[AT]Fanime[DOT]Com

Charis

Steve,

There's been some concern expressed in the past as to how weapons will be peace-bonded, including concern over weapons being peace-bonded to a costume.  Could you please, inasmuch as is possible, comment on that?

Thanks.
2012 Plans:
  • Gypsy Queen / Kaya Syokka (Trinity Blood)
  • Risai (Juuni Kokki/Twelve Kingdoms)
  • Shusui (Saiunkoku Monogatari)
  • others TBD

Steve.Young

Weapons are on a case by case basis in terms of realism, operational function, and prop/accessory distinction.

That being said, there should be a limited amount of weapons that will be peace bonded to your persons (I can't give you a classification of what, it would be too vague.)

For the most part, your weapons would simply be peace-bonded, and essentially sign a verbal agreement when we peace bond your weapons that you won't be stupid with them.
Director of Marketing
Staff Moderator - Fanime Forums.

Please PM me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Steve[AT]Fanime[DOT]Com

GyzmoAlchemist

I have an..."intriguing" weapons question:

The phaser from the new Star Trek movie, which looks like this:

http://img.trekmovie.com/images/merchandise/pmst09/Phaser_HiRes_v2.jpg

Would that not be allowed?  It seems shiny enough to not be seen as realistic, and the barrels are marked with colors...

Steve.Young

That would probably be fine because of the lights making it look pretty fake or like a toy.
Director of Marketing
Staff Moderator - Fanime Forums.

Please PM me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Steve[AT]Fanime[DOT]Com

kimu

I'm happy to read this policy seems fair to me. But I do hope all staff peace bonding weapons will be trained to support these policies equally. (There were inconsistencies last year as everyone's complained on the forums doesn't need to be belabored again.)
And regarding to possible peace bonding anything to our bodies/costume--that our health and safety is considered. Such as in case of if there was an emergency evacuation/fire drill kind of thing, or consideration for the ability to sit down to rest/eat or make use of restroom facilities.
If enough responsible cosplayers also help the staff keep anyone acting irresponsible in line or report them, then we can all have a good time, be safe, and not get more rules invoked.

pixelperfect

Hi Steve.

I have a stop sign prop for my cosplay and I did not see anything on Weapons Police pertaining to such.  I normally would leave it at that, but last year at AX my stop sign was not addressed on their weapons policy either, however the staff considered it a weapon.  Furthermore they did not peace bond it because there was an undocumented rule that signs of any type was not allowed. 

Here's a link to the stop sign http://images.cosplay.com/photos/16/1613976.jpg

Can you tell me if this is problematic in any way?

Thank you in advance.

Jerry

Quote from: pixelperfect on May 14, 2009, 04:51:03 PM
Here's a link to the stop sign http://images.cosplay.com/photos/16/1613976.jpg

I think your link to the picture is broken? please double check your side? otherwise its probably my computer...
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Kyra_Maverick

Quote from: Jerry on May 14, 2009, 04:59:33 PM
Quote from: pixelperfect on May 14, 2009, 04:51:03 PM
Here's a link to the stop sign http://images.cosplay.com/photos/16/1613976.jpg

I think your link to the picture is broken? please double check your side? otherwise its probably my computer...
I think its the link. Its not loading on my side either.

billgoku

I had a questions about my sword, It's Ichigo's Bankai sword, its wooden so that shouldn't be an issue, but it has a small plastic chain on the end of the hilt(its part of the sword), would that be of any issue?
Fanime 10 2 weeks away...
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Cosplays plans in 10: Ichigo , few possibles...
: Onizuka (GTO) (Yes, this year I will do him no matter what.)

AbsolutelyCursed

I made these out of wood. Just wondering if they're ok for the con?
The last four images show the end of the barrel. Anything else need to be done?

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g284/AstrayNova/Prop/

pixelperfect

Quote from: Kyra_Maverick on May 14, 2009, 05:49:18 PM
Quote from: Jerry on May 14, 2009, 04:59:33 PM
Quote from: pixelperfect on May 14, 2009, 04:51:03 PM
Here's a link to the stop sign http://images.cosplay.com/photos/16/1613976.jpg

I think your link to the picture is broken? please double check your side? otherwise its probably my computer...
I think its the link. Its not loading on my side either.

That's odd, I checked the link after I posted, but now it doesn't work.  Here's the link:

http://www.cosplay.com/photo/1613976/

Charis

You can't hotlink to coscom for images -- you have to link the base page, as you've done in this more recent post.

(Just sayin'.  ;) )
2012 Plans:
  • Gypsy Queen / Kaya Syokka (Trinity Blood)
  • Risai (Juuni Kokki/Twelve Kingdoms)
  • Shusui (Saiunkoku Monogatari)
  • others TBD

pixelperfect

Quote from: Charis on May 15, 2009, 09:18:12 AM
You can't hotlink to coscom for images -- you have to link the base page, as you've done in this more recent post.

(Just sayin'.  ;) )

Oh!  Okay.  I really wasn't aware.  Thanks for letting me know =)

orchestrafro

How about an ammo-less cap gun (with orange tip) for use with Spike Spiegel and Heero Yuy cosplays?

ewu

Quote from: orchestrafro on May 15, 2009, 01:11:09 PM
How about an ammo-less cap gun (with orange tip) for use with Spike Spiegel and Heero Yuy cosplays?

no moving parts on a prop gun
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FanimeCon Chairman
FanimeCon Forums Moderator

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AbsolutelyCursed

What about a gun made out of wood with no orange tip or orange paint?

ewu

it must not look like a gun or weapon from 20 feet away. It must be easily identifiable as a prop.

Your images look like guns. a longer barrel, but they look exactly like guns....
Eric Wu
FanimeCon Chairman
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