Guest Column from Odelia Chan.Toy airsoft guns are in the crosshairs of the federal Liberal’s Bill C-21, which seeks to amend firearms legislation and regulations. All airsoft and BB rifles and pistols – except for some fantasy-style toys – are at risk of becoming “prohibited devices” since they look like real firearms. Even some historical firearm replicas and paintball guns are also in danger of being banned if Bill C-21 is passed..The ban on airsoft guns is not even the most atrocious part of the bill: new red flag laws, further restrictions on actual firearms, and municipal bans on law abiding handgun ownership are among them. These attacks on gun rights have overshadowed the airsoft ban in the media. .But banning airsoft will affect thousands of people, shutter hundreds of small businesses nationwide, decimate an entire industry, and result in further suppression of our basic freedoms. .Airsoft hobbyists use air-powered guns that fire lightweight plastic pellets to play organized games, practice target shooting, and have fun with friends and family. Airsoft guns and gear facilitates safe gunplay; it allows people to shoot guns, play games with friends, and not hurt people. Airsoft rifles and pistols are made to look like real guns because the ergonomics of real firearms work well, resulting in efficient weapon manipulation..The stated goal of Bill C-21 is to promote “public safety.” Airsoft is seen as the “gateway gun” into real firearms; banning airsoft rifles and restricting access to them, according to the Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG), will “save lives.” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who introduced Bill C-21 to the House of Commons on Feb 16, 2021, noted that the biggest supporters for the bill came from the Canadian law enforcement. .But is banning airsoft reasonable? .The CDPG is right about pellet and BB guns being the “gateway gun” into real firearms. Many young people are introduced to shooting through BB guns. Supporters of Bill C-21 want to prevent children from pretending to shoot real guns; thus, pellet and BB guns should be banned. .This is all premised on a belief that guns are bad, and that only bad people own guns. .Fear of air-powered guns being a threat to public safety is misplaced. Shooting, playing with, and handling airsoft and paintball guns teach players about basic gun safety. Those who regularly play with airsoft would be safer shooters when handling real firearms compared with people who have never touched airsoft rifles before. .The proposed laws surrounding air guns target law-abiding citizens, not criminals. If airsoft is banned, criminals who use airsoft guns to harm the innocent would turn to using lethal weapons, such as knives or real firearms. Criminals could not legally purchase of airsoft guns along with the rest of us. But if one is caught giving an airsoft gun to a friend, such an act would count as unlawful weapons trafficking, on par with selling machine guns to the mafia. .Banning airsoft will have real economic consequences, especially given the difficult economic situation caused by provincial lockdown measures. Thousands of airsofters and hundreds of small businesses would be affected by this ban; the film and theatre industries will also suffer, as airsoft weapons are often used as safe props. No one from the airsoft, paintball and firearms replica industries have been consulted prior to the proposal of the bill. Airsoft is not an inexpensive hobby; yet there are no “buy-back program” provisions in Bill C-21. The entire airsoft industry – not to say much of the broader firearms industry – would be crippled if Bill C-21 is passed. .Punishing people for owning airsoft guns with the same crime for owning illegal actual firearms is ridiculous, illogical and unfair. In May 2020, over 1,500 “military-style” assault rifles have been banned. Now they are going after toy guns that shoot plastic pellets. .Guest Column from Odelia Chan
Guest Column from Odelia Chan.Toy airsoft guns are in the crosshairs of the federal Liberal’s Bill C-21, which seeks to amend firearms legislation and regulations. All airsoft and BB rifles and pistols – except for some fantasy-style toys – are at risk of becoming “prohibited devices” since they look like real firearms. Even some historical firearm replicas and paintball guns are also in danger of being banned if Bill C-21 is passed..The ban on airsoft guns is not even the most atrocious part of the bill: new red flag laws, further restrictions on actual firearms, and municipal bans on law abiding handgun ownership are among them. These attacks on gun rights have overshadowed the airsoft ban in the media. .But banning airsoft will affect thousands of people, shutter hundreds of small businesses nationwide, decimate an entire industry, and result in further suppression of our basic freedoms. .Airsoft hobbyists use air-powered guns that fire lightweight plastic pellets to play organized games, practice target shooting, and have fun with friends and family. Airsoft guns and gear facilitates safe gunplay; it allows people to shoot guns, play games with friends, and not hurt people. Airsoft rifles and pistols are made to look like real guns because the ergonomics of real firearms work well, resulting in efficient weapon manipulation..The stated goal of Bill C-21 is to promote “public safety.” Airsoft is seen as the “gateway gun” into real firearms; banning airsoft rifles and restricting access to them, according to the Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG), will “save lives.” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who introduced Bill C-21 to the House of Commons on Feb 16, 2021, noted that the biggest supporters for the bill came from the Canadian law enforcement. .But is banning airsoft reasonable? .The CDPG is right about pellet and BB guns being the “gateway gun” into real firearms. Many young people are introduced to shooting through BB guns. Supporters of Bill C-21 want to prevent children from pretending to shoot real guns; thus, pellet and BB guns should be banned. .This is all premised on a belief that guns are bad, and that only bad people own guns. .Fear of air-powered guns being a threat to public safety is misplaced. Shooting, playing with, and handling airsoft and paintball guns teach players about basic gun safety. Those who regularly play with airsoft would be safer shooters when handling real firearms compared with people who have never touched airsoft rifles before. .The proposed laws surrounding air guns target law-abiding citizens, not criminals. If airsoft is banned, criminals who use airsoft guns to harm the innocent would turn to using lethal weapons, such as knives or real firearms. Criminals could not legally purchase of airsoft guns along with the rest of us. But if one is caught giving an airsoft gun to a friend, such an act would count as unlawful weapons trafficking, on par with selling machine guns to the mafia. .Banning airsoft will have real economic consequences, especially given the difficult economic situation caused by provincial lockdown measures. Thousands of airsofters and hundreds of small businesses would be affected by this ban; the film and theatre industries will also suffer, as airsoft weapons are often used as safe props. No one from the airsoft, paintball and firearms replica industries have been consulted prior to the proposal of the bill. Airsoft is not an inexpensive hobby; yet there are no “buy-back program” provisions in Bill C-21. The entire airsoft industry – not to say much of the broader firearms industry – would be crippled if Bill C-21 is passed. .Punishing people for owning airsoft guns with the same crime for owning illegal actual firearms is ridiculous, illogical and unfair. In May 2020, over 1,500 “military-style” assault rifles have been banned. Now they are going after toy guns that shoot plastic pellets. .Guest Column from Odelia Chan
