U.S. airsoft pros fear Canada's looming ban will impact entire sport
Bill C-21 will revise the Criminal Code's definition of prohibited replica firearms to include airsoft
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Publishing date:Feb 22, 2021 • 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
John Graham, known online as Grounded, demonstrating a competitive airsoft rifle Submitted
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Canada’s plans to outlaw airsoft is garnering concern from across the border.
Known online as “Grounded,” John Graham is a U.S. army veteran and online influencer who said Canada makes a big impact on the sport — and American competitors stand to lose big if Canadian companies that sponsor them are forced out of business.
“Personally, I’ll lose a large airsoft contact in Canada that’s promoted my name and tags me on posts,” he said.
“And they lose a brand ambassador that promotes Canadian airsoft in the (United) States.”
Last week, Ottawa introduced new firearms legislation, Bill C-21, which contains paragraphs that redefines the Criminal Code definition of a prohibited replica to include airsoft guns, which — despite resembling real firearms — have always been legal to purchase and import.
Repeated requests for explanations from the Justice Department have gone unanswered, but a spokesperson on Monday confirmed the legislation would make most airsoft guns illegal to sell or import.
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Aside from hobbyists, both military and law enforcement use airsoft as a realistic and low-risk training tool.
Many jurisdictions permit coloured airsoft guns which are easy to distinguish from real firearms.
Questions to the Justice Department about whether coloured airsoft guns will be exempt from the bill went unanswered.
Dutch the Hooligan PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM /@dutch_the_hooligan_official
A petition to reverse the ban has garnered nearly 27,000 signatures.
Even from his home base in southern California, professional airsoft competitor Dutch The Hooligan told the Toronto Sun he’s gravely concerned about Bill C-21.
“I can’t find a single good reason why airsoft guns should ever be banned,” he said.
A career airsoft competitor with more than one million subscriptions on his YouTube channel, he described the sport as a healthy and safe activity that promotes teamwork.
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“Losing Canada in airsoft would be a tragedy, and I fear the ripple effect would be catastrophic to the sport around the world,” he said.
“Where is the logic here?”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
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Bill C-21 will revise the Criminal Code's definition of prohibited replica firearms to include airsoft
torontosun.com