Fanime Peace-Bonding, Props & Weapons Policy
Weapons & Props are objects which go with costumes, but are not clothing. Any and all props carried at Fanime must be peace-bonded by a Fanime Rover at a peace-bonding station as soon as possible after entering the convention, and may only be carried with the matching costume. Some props- such as those listed explicitly below- are absolutely prohibited and there are no exceptions. Any items which may not be carried under California State Law are absolutely prohibited. The effectiveness of the prop or the skill of the person in possession of the prop is irrelevant when determining whether the prop may be carried.
In order to carry a weapon or prop as part of a costume, any staff, guest, or member must have their weapon/prop peace-bonded regardless of training, credentials, age, maturity, or status as a general member, staff member, or guest. Peace-bonding shall be done as soon as possible upon entering convention-occupied space- this includes all public hallways of hotels, anywhere in the convention center, and any space set aside for convention use.
In order to get your prop peace-bonded, you must be in costume, and you must take your prop to a peace-bonding station. By getting your prop peace-bonded, you as a convention attendee agree to be responsible for, and responsible with your weapon. You agree that you will not brandish it, threaten anyone with, or use your prop. You agree not to damage other attendees or convention property. You will most especially not use your weapon to fight or play-fight with anyone else on convention property.
Prohibited Weapons & Props
• Real Weapons and Illegal Weapons as defined by California State Law are not permitted. Concealed weapons are not permitted, regardless of licensing status.
• Live Steel is not permitted. Swords, knives, or other metal objects which have, or could take an edge are defined as live steel, whether sharp or not. Unsharpened steel may be bound into a scabbard and attached to the costume.
• Guns and Projectile Weapons are not permitted. Examples include, but are not limited to: live guns, live gun replicas, pellet guns, BB guns, Airsoft guns, paintball guns, dart guns, filled water guns, blow guns, or crossbows. The functionality of the prop is irrelevant.
• Flail Weapons are not permitted, and many are illegal in the state of California. Examples of flail weapons include but are not limited to: whips, floggers, maces, nunchaku, or similar weapons with parts attached by chain, rope, or string.
• Incendiary Devices are not permitted. Any devices which spark, shoot flame, burn, smolder, could otherwise self-initiate combustion or which exist for no other purpose than to be lit with a combustion device are considered incendiary devices.
• Miscellaneous Items which are not permitted include but are not limited to: lasers, laser pointers, metal baseball bats, sai, tanfa, metal kunai, and yaoi/yuri paddles. Solicitous signs (including “Hug Me” signs) are not permitted. Items larger than 8 feet long (in its longest dimension) are prohibited.
Permitted Props
• Prop/Toy Guns which are clearly props- such as phasers- or which possess no moving parts and are clearly marked with non-removable orange tip, or colored in a bright safety color is permitted, however, they must be peace-bonded into a holster. Empty water guns may be carried if they are bonded with a pulled trigger.
• Bows which have no tension whether strung or not may be peace-bonded in an unstrung position. Arrows should not have a tip, and may be carried only in a quiver.
• Staves, Staffs & non-metal Swords such as bo sticks, boken, shinai, wooden, and plastic swords are acceptable as long as they are ornamental and in no way used as weapons. They shall be peace-bonded in such a way that it is not possible to draw them.
• Miscellaneous Items which are permitted include but are not limited to: tennis rackets, plastic baseball bats, paper fans, flowers, umbrellas, musical instruments, and other everyday items. Some whips may be carried if they can be coiled and attached to the costume.
• Other Props made of cardboard, papier-mâché, plastic, wood, enamel or other materials may be acceptable so long as they do not break Fanime weapons policy or State law. They should be brought to a peace-bonding station for review.
Weapons and Props not explicitly listed are to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and will be peace-bonded at the discretion of a Rovers Shift Lead. Fanime reserves the right to add weapons or props to either list at need.
Carrying Weapons & Props
• In order to carry any weapon or prop at the convention you must be in costume as a published character, the weapon/prop must be peace-bonded and the weapon/prop must be with the costume which it was peace-bonded with. The prop may not be one which belongs to another character.
• Gun-like and Sword-like props must be peace-bonded into a scabbard or holster (and in the case of gun-like props, the holster will be bonded to the costume). Items which are too large to be holstered may be tagged with a peace-bond and may be hand-carried provided they are never brandished. Items which are too large to be holstered may be dealt with in another way.
• In order to qualify as a “Published Character” for cosplay and peace-bonding, said character must be available for viewing in print, on film, or on the internet, and must be developed beyond a basic character-concept.
• Peace-bonding should take place as soon as possible after entering the convention. It must be done every year, at every convention. Tags from previous years, or other conventions do not qualify, and must be replaced. Getting your weapon peace-bonded tells convention staff that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by the Fanime Props & Weapons policy.
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. They shall not be carried around loose, or where they can be used.
• If a weapon is purchased at con, it may not be carried around; it must be immediately removed from convention-occupied space. If the weapon meets the peace-bonding requirements, it must be peace-bonded.
Weapons and Props at Masquerade
• Staff, guests, and members who are participating in Masquerade and wish to use a weapon which is not permitted by this weapons policy shall contact Rover Base 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 which renders it ineffective and inaccessible and follows all concealed weapon laws.
• Once at Masquerade, the weapon shall be checked-in with the Masquerade Weapons Master until the participant is ready to perform, at which time it may be checked-out for the duration of the performance. Except for while the participant is performing, the Masquerade Weapons Master shall maintain control of all weapons and props.
• 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 & Consequences
Violations include but are not limited to:
• Carrying a weapon or prop which does not meet the requirements for peace-bonding.
• Carrying a weapon which was peace-bonded for a costume which you are not wearing.
• Failure to have a weapon or prop peace bonded.
• Removing the peace-bonded tag on a weapon while in convention-occupied space.
• Brandishing a weapon or prop.
Consequences include but are not limited to:
• Attendee warning or reprimand.
• Escort to a peace-bonding station.
• Attendee removal from convention occupied space.
• Confiscation of badge.
Fanime Weapons Policy FAQ
• What is Peace Bonding?
Peace-Bonding is the process of taking someone’s weapon or prop, and putting a Peace-Bond (aka “zip tie”) on it in order to both mark that they’ve agreed to abide by the rules, and, in some cases, make it unusable.
• What can’t be carried?
Real Weapons cannot be carried- this includes real swords, guns, etc. Practice Weapons such as boken and shinai are exempted from this. Weapons which violate State or Federal law may not be carried. Props which have not been peace-bonded may not be carried, and props which do not go with the costume you are wearing may not be carried.
• You said I couldn’t carry X, Y, or Z. What do I do now?
Weapons and props which are not approved should be promptly removed from convention center property. They need to be taken back to a hotel room, or a car, and kept there as long as you are in the convention center. We are cannot hold your props for you, even if you lack a car or hotel room.
• This was OK last year, what about now?
We change rules yearly. This means that what was ok last year may not be allowed this year. Most especially, we’re going to be changing rules on Guns and Gun-like weapons. We require holsters, and they must be peace-tied into the Holster. They should have the bright orange tip, or something similar which makes them look unrealistic. No metal swords are allowed. No metal blades. No plastic or metal Kunai (without being attached).
• I’m dressed up as my character [insert information here], can I carry [prop here]?
Not unless your character has been published. We get a lot of people who come in wearing jeans and a t-shirt, carrying a boken and expecting to carry it because it’s “their original character.” If you can provide a URL where your character has been published pre convention, and the outfit matches the published character, you can, in fact, get peace-bonded.
• I just bought this awesome [weapon here] in the Dealer’s Hall. Can I get it peace-bonded?
Not unless it matches the character and you just happened to be waiting until the convention to get the last piece. If you bought it, keep it in a box (demand one from the dealer) or a bag which makes it unusable. If you don’t have a bag or a box, take it off the convention center property and back to your car, hotel room, or a friend’s car or hotel room.
• I don’t have a car/hotel room. What do I do?
Often, the people at the hotel front desks are kind enough to hold things. Rovers staff cannot hold onto your weapons for you- we are not a coat check, and cannot function as one, no matter how nicely you ask. (Sorry.)
