KAWAII KON WEAPONS POLICY 2009

The purpose of this weapons policy is to allow those in costume to wear them freely at our convention venues. We are bound by agreement with our venue locations to enforce the weapons policy

We the Security and Management of Kawaii Kon appreciate the time and effort put into the creation of your costumes, props, and replica weapon-like items, and understands that non-working replica, prop, and imitation "weapons" are often a part of anime costuming. To ensure the Safety of all those attending the Kawaii Kon events, we maintain this strict Weapons Policy. It is imperative that costume "weapons" comply with this policy and with local, state, and federal laws. This policy is not a summary of the laws nor does this policy constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws. Kawaii Kon reserves the right to refuse the entry of any prop or weapon it decides is unfit for the convention. All props or weapons must support the overall look of a costume or character. Wearing a prop or weapon for its own sake is not allowed. Misuse of a prop or weapon can be considered grounds for removal or ejection from the convention. Any display of an item in an aggressive or threatening manner, real or implied regardless of intent, or any other activity thought to be unsafe in the view of the Security Staff is strictly forbidden. All Prop Weapons will be checked upon entrance to Kawaii Kon Convention at the Security Kiosk.

~ BRANDISHING

Brandishing any weapon-like item is NOT permissible. Brandishing is defined as drawing, exhibiting, or using any weapon whatsoever in a rude, angry, or threatening, manner or using a weapon in any fight or quarrel. KawaiiKon Staff, and Convention Center Security are empowered to determine whether a particular act constitutes "Brandishing" in their sole and absolute discretion. Even foam weapons can injure others and create unsafe situations. Anyone brandishing a weapon-like item in an unsafe manner will be told to remove it from the convention spaces. However, you are allowed to pose with a weapon-like item in a brandishing manner so long as no reasonable person would interpret the pose as anything but safe and no real threat.

You may not carry or possess any working weapon, openly or concealed, AT ANY TIME or around the convention spaces. Working weapons, firearms, curio or relic to include antique firearms, and all forms of ammunition are strictly forbidden. Even items that may be legal to carry such as small knives or stun guns are not welcome at Kawaii Kon. Please leave them at home. The possession and sale of replica firearms is restricted in the city of Honolulu per a 2003 city ordinance. Replica firearms and their usage must comply with the city ordinance. "Air Soft", water guns, squirt guns, and any toy that is capable of actually firing a projectile, liquid, or object of any type are not allowed.

Futuristic Replicas and fake period weapons may be displayed as long they are recognizable as obvious fakes. Any non-working projectile weapon being used for a prop must have a 1/2 inch of bright orange plastic or tape around the end of the muzzle. Be prepared to show any Kawaii Kon Security Staff, Convention Center staff and/or police officer, your weapon to make sure that it conforms with the rules.

Sharp edges on any material are not permitted, and must be filed, padded, or otherwise protected against unwanted contact. A point on any material that is not soft to the touch (such as soft foam or fabric) is not allowed. Soft to the touch should at least have a one half inch give to it when pushed with a finger on the actual tip. If a soft tip is created, the underlying structure must support safely as well in case the underlying structure is exposed. The use of varnish, shellac, or any other coating to make a soft weapon have a hard exterior is forbidden. The definition of "hard" in this case is a hardness that exceeds that such as raw balsa or fir woods. Materials that can shatter, such as glass or brittle plastics, are not permitted

Any firearm that has the firing pin removed or barrel filled to make it unusable is still considered a "real weapon" and is not allowed, as it can be misconstrued by Honolulu PD or convention staff to be a threat.

Replica and futuristic firearms are allowed only if such weapon cannot be misconstrued by Security Staff to be a real firearm. A cap made of bright colored plastic (orange, red, yellow) may be placed OVER the end of the barrel and secured against removal. This includes any weapon that may be "fired" such as a homemade replica meant to duplicate a character's weapon that you are portraying. While an obviously non-lethal weapon such as a water gun is allowed as a prop, filling said prop with water passes it into non-acceptable weapons group and is subject to removal from the convention.

Any firearm that has the firing pin removed or barrel filled to make it unusable is still considered a "real weapon" and is not allowed, as it can be misconstrued by Honolulu Police Department or convention staff to be a threat.

Replica and futuristic firearms are allowed only if such weapon cannot be misconstrued by Security Staff to be a real firearm. A cap made of bright colored plastic (orange, red, yellow) may be placed OVER the end of the barrel and secured against removal. This includes any weapon that may be "fired" such as a homemade replica meant to duplicate a character's weapon that you are portraying. While an obviously non-lethal weapon such as a water gun is allowed as a prop, filling said prop with water passes it into non-acceptable weapons group and is subject to removal from the convention.

Bows or other manual projectile replicas are allowed only if they are rendered incapable of firing a projectile. Airsoft weapons in any configuration are not allowed as props. Because Airsoft and other weapons are sold in the dealers room, a distinction must be made: all items purchased in the dealers room are merchandise until they are removed from their packaging, at which time they fall under the weapons policy, including, but not limited to knives, staves, airsoft weapons, projectile weapons, and combative clothing (such as metal wrist spikes.)

Misc. props such as metal costume spikes, metal lacing on costumes or other modification that could harm another with contact are forbidden.

Any weapon purchased at the dealer's room must be wrapped before leaving the vendor’s table so that it is not recognized as said weapon and then immediately taken to a room or car.

Personal firearms, while permitted by the State of Texas for individuals with a valid and current license for a concealed handgun, are not allowed into any convention space regardless of reason. Any individual caught with such weapon in a convention space will be asked to leave convention space and/or reported to local authorities.

ORANGE SAFETY TIPS ON ALL GUNS: In most areas, toy guns are legally required to have a non-removable bright orange plastic tip, to make it easy to spot that they are fake. Almost all toy guns you find in the store or online will have this tip already, but when you are making one yourself make sure to put an orange tip on it. For my own custom guns, I usually use bright orange paper to make a rim around the tip, but orange paint or neon paint marker also works. Sometimes pre-made guns' tips look more pink or red than orange – don't worry, so long as there is an orange-ish neon tip it will be fine. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT put an orange tip on a real gun to disguise it as a toy – that is very, very, very illegal. Some cons don't permit guns that look real when holstered, since holsters cover the orange tips, making the police unable to tell that they are toys. It sometimes works to make a holster with a hole in the bottom so the tip is visible, or else to put bright orange on the handle of the gun as well as the tip. Note that New York city requires toy guns to be entirely neon-colored, not just the tip – most online toy gun stores offer special New York city Safe prop guns for use in theaters.

WEIGHT AND LENGTH MATTER: Any material, be it metal, wood or plastic, can hurt someone if it's heavy enough, so sometimes weapons are forbidden on the basis of size and weight. Basically, the bigger a weapon is, the lighter you need to make it to keep it con safe. No matter what kind of weapon it's supposed to look like, any long, heavy object is legally a "staff" which counts as a weapon in many states. This does NOT mean that you can't bring Cloud's giant sword to a con, it just means you should make it out of foam or hollow plastic rather than heavy wood. A small wooden sword is usually fine, but any weapon more than about four feet long should be light or hollow to avoid problems – the bigger the lighter. This problem is the major reason why security staff will never approve a weapon without seeing it. If you phone up and say, "I have a ten-foot long plastic Zabuza sword, is that okay?" they can't say "yes" or "no" over the phone since they can't actually feel the thing to see how heavy it is, and thus how dangerous.

To give you a sense of the weight scale, when I cosplay K, my dinky revolver that shoots a "bang" flag is made of metal, my standard pistols are solid plastic, my machine guns are hollow plastic, my small bazooka is cardboard, and my large bazooka is an extremely lightweight hollow plastic tube – all five guns weigh about the same amount, though the large bazooka is about twenty times the size of the "bang" pistol. Security staff are fine with all of them, because they can tell with one feel that a bazooka that light couldn't hurt anyone even if I used it as a club.

Short list of the most important steps to make sure your weapons will be okay at Kawaii Kon:

GUNS: no guns that shoot anything, must have orange tip, orange handle if it looks real when holstered.

SWORDS: not too heavy, make sure to have a sheath.