Props and weapons policy

Please keep in mind that rules regarding weapons are designed to keep everyone safe. 

 

Windblume is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all persons attending the convention. Any item that Windblume believes may be a weapon must be immediately taken to Weapons Check for examination. Weapons that Windblume determines are admissible will be marked with an identifying tag and may be brought into the convention. Any weapon that Windblume considers to be inadmissible must be stored at Weapons Check or immediately removed from the convention. Any prohibited (illegal) weapon must be removed from the convention. The decision of the Weapons Master, or their designate, is final and will be strictly enforced to ensure a safe environment for all attendees.

 

Failure to respect any of the weapon rules may result in any or all of the following:

• Confiscation of weapon or item, without return;

• Loss of admission to the show without refund;

• The involvement of law enforcement agencies; and/or

• Other actions deemed appropriate by Windblume.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Weapon is defined as any item or object that the Criminal Code, the Windblume Weapons Master, or their designate, considers to be a weapon.

 

Weapons Master is the representative of Windblume who implements and enforces the Windblume Weapons Policy- either directly or via designated staff. The decision of the Weapons Master, or their designate, is final.

 

Prohibited and/or illegal Weapon: A prohibited weapon is one that the convention does not allow on its grounds. An illegal weapon is one that is not allowed to be possessed, displayed, or sold in Texas. These prohibited and/or illegal weapons are banned from Windblume and must be immediately removed from the convention centre. Windblume reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.

 

Inadmissible Weapon is a non-prohibited (i.e. legal) weapon that has been examined by the Weapons Master, or their designate, and is not permitted to be brought into the convention. A legal weapon may still be considered an inadmissible weapon at Windblume (e.g. a metal sword). The weapons must be stored at Weapons Check or immediately removed from the convention. Some weapons sold by Exhibitors are inadmissible and are subject to the procedures in the Special Circumstances section below.

 

Admissible Weapon is a weapon that has been examined by the Weapons Master, or their designate, and is permitted to be brought into the convention. A small identifying tag will be affixed to the weapon to identify it as admissible.

 

Weapons Check is the area, or areas, at Windblume where all items that may be considered weapons are inspected by Windblume and determined to be either prohibited, inadmissible, or admissible.

 

Examples of Prohibited and/or illegal Weapons

 If it is illegal outside the convention, it is illegal inside the convention- and therefore banned from Windblume . Examples include (but are not limited to):

 

• Firearms of any kind;

• Bali-song (“butterfly knife”) or switchblade/drop blade style knives;

• Brass knuckles or knives/blades attached to brass knuckles;

• Spiked wristbands;

• Morning Stars or flails;

• Concealed knives or blades in normally innocuous items that are less than 30 cm in length;

• Hand crossbows;

• Nunchucks, tonfas, shurikens, or similarly prohibited martial arts weapons (foam replicas of these items are admissible); and,

• Law enforcement items such as batons, Tasers, or mace.

• Arrows, bolts, and other projectiles used in bows, crossbows, or slingshots are inadmissible.

 

Note: Although some types of cane swords, umbrella swords, and similar items may not be prohibited in Texas, ALL such items are banned from display, sale, or possession at Windblume . 

 

Examples of Inadmissible Weapons

 

The following list provides some examples of Inadmissible Weapons. Windblume reserves the right to determine the admissibility of any item or weapon.

 

Projectile Weapons

 

• Airsoft pistols, rifles or other similar devices;

• Pellet guns, BB guns, or similar devices;

• Flintlock or muzzle loading weapons or similar devices (which are not considered “firearms” under the law);

• Decommissioned firearms of any kind;

• Replica firearms made from metal, solid resin/plastic/rubber;

• Close imitations are allowed if they are made of acceptable materials and as long as they cannot fire like an actual replica (e.g. a musket that does not have the proper firing chamber, or a pistol that does not have a bored barrel);

• Any prop, item or weapon that is capable of firing any projectile or powder charge of any kind;

• All other projectile weapons are required to have orange safety tips at all times on convention grounds, however, they can be removed for photography or competition purposes if they are reattached when moving around the convention;

• Nerf guns and other foam dart guns are admissible, but they must not have any foam darts loaded at any time;

• Bows, crossbows (but not hand crossbows- they are Illegal Weapons), and slingshots are admissible but only if they are de-strung or strung with light string, yarn, or a similar material and cannot fire a projectile; and,

• Arrows, bolts, and other projectiles used in bows, crossbows, or slingshots are inadmissible.

 

Swords, Blades, Knives and other Melee Weapons

 

• Hard plastic replica weapons made from polypropylene or similar items;

• Cane swords, umbrella swords, or similar items;

• Metal swords, metal knives and other active martial arts weapons;

• Metal weapons purchased at the convention are subject to the policy direction in the Special Circumstances section below;

• Metal chains or other similar items;

• Costume swords are admissible if they are secured in such a fashion that they cannot be drawn; and,

• Blunt weapons (made of wood, hard plastic, or metal) such as baseball bats, cricket bats, and hockey sticks.

• Butterfly trainers

 

Shields and Armor

 

• Wooden, plastic, and metal shields are inadmissible if they contain: sharp metal edges; metal, wood, or hard plastic spikes, or other protrusions; and/or any other feature or characteristic determined to be inadmissible.

• Armor is inadmissible if it contains: sharp metal edges; metal, wood, or hard plastic spikes, or other protrusions; and/or any other feature or characteristic determined to be inadmissible.

 

Lightsabers

 

• Lightsabers are permitted if their blade/bulb is not made of glass.

 

Wheeled/Tracked/Jumping Devices

 

• Skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, unicycles, bicycles, hoverboards, scooters and similar devices.

• Pogo sticks, spring shoes, jumping shoes, kangaroo shoes, and similar devices.

 

Prop Weight, Shape and Material Restrictions

 

• Any items with sharp points, sharp edges, excessive weight or any other features that are deemed dangerous to others by Windblume.

• There is no set weight limit for items, but Windblume reserves the right to prohibit heavy items on a case-by-case basis.

 

Lasers

 

• Windblume prohibits all laser pointers in the convention. If a prop or weapon includes a laser pointer, it must be rendered non-functioning (e.g. batteries must be removed).

 

Restricted items

 

Note that the following weapons and/or items can be sold at the event but cannot be displayed during the event. It is recommended that if you wish to sell these items that you make a pamphlet with images of the items for customers to see what items you have in stock.

 

• Butterfly combs or similar

• Butterfly bottle openers

 

PROCEDURES

 

• Windblume reserves the right to require that any item entering the convention, or which is found to be anywhere within the convention, be made available at any time for examination by Windblume staff to determine the item’s admissibility status. Non-compliance may result in expulsion without refund from the event.

• Any item that Windblume determines may be a weapon must be immediately taken to Weapons Check for examination (or examined on the convention floor by the Weapons Master, or their designate, if they are circulating around the event). Weapons that already have a tag may be re-sent to Weapons Check to validate the tag. Windblume staff may escort the weapon to Weapons Check.

• The Windblume Weapons Master, or their designate, will examine the weapon to determine its admissibility.

• Admissible weapons will have a small identifying tag affixed to the weapon- in a location determined by the Weapons Master, or their designate. The tag must remain on the weapon for the duration of the convention. Tampering, altering or removing the tag during the convention may result in the weapon being determined as inadmissible and/or the removal of the person from the convention.

• Inadmissible weapons must be stored at Weapons Check or immediately removed from the convention.

• Prohibited weapons must be immediately removed from the convention center. They cannot be stored at Weapons Check. Windblume reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.

• Illegal weapons may be reported to law enforcement agencies if seen.

• Any inappropriate behavior with a weapon, which puts the safety of any person or property at risk, will not be tolerated. This includes horseplay, mock fighting, or other activities deemed inappropriate by Windblume.

• Refer to the Special Circumstances section below for the procedures related to Inadmissible Weapons that are displayed, offered for sale, and purchased at the convention.

• Inadmissible Weapons stored at Weapons Check will be returned to individuals as they are leaving the convention.

• Failure to respect these requirements may result in the weapon being confiscated without return.

• It is the individual’s responsibility to pick up their checked weapons as they exit the convention. Any props or weapons left with the Weapons Master beyond the closing of Weapons Check on Sunday become the property of Windblume.

​

Special Circumstances

 

Inadmissible Weapons Purchased from Exhibitors

 

Inadmissible weapons on display and/or being sold by Exhibitors must be safely secured to the display surface if they are within reach of attendees (i.e. attendees must not be able to pick up the weapons). As part of normal shopping behavior, attendees are permitted to handle inadmissible weapons- but must remain under the direct supervision of the Exhibitor.

 

Exhibitors may only display (including under the counter displays and items stored out of sight) or sell weapons or any other items that are permitted to be sold by all applicable provincial and federal laws and regulations (i.e. they are not prohibited) and only to persons who are legally entitled to purchase and/or possess the weapon or item.

 

The display or sale of prohibited (illegal) weapons or items may result in an Exhibitor being removed from the convention and/or other actions deemed appropriate by Windblume.

 

Demonstrations

 

For safety reasons, Exhibitors must not conduct demonstrations of inadmissible weapons or other items in the aisles or other similar areas. Such demonstrations must be conducted behind the counter, table or within the allotted booth space, and must be supervised by the Exhibitor.

 

After the Sale

 

Once a weapon has been sold, it must be securely wrapped in thick paper or cardboard and cannot be taken out of such packaging at the convention. Exhibitors must remind the attendees buying weapons that if they are found opening the packaging on the convention hall floor, the weapon in question will be confiscated. It is the Exhibitor’s responsibility to inform attendees of the requirement to keep their purchased weapons securely wrapped while at the convention.

 

Admissible Weapons Purchased from Exhibitors

 

The Exhibitor must inform the attendee purchasing the weapon to bring said weapon or item to the Weapons Check at the entrance and have it tagged as an admissible weapon. Exhibitors are required to explain to attendees that if the weapon is not tagged, it may be confiscated.

 

If an Exhibitor wants to arrange for mock battles to show off their LARP weapons during convention hours anywhere on the convention site, they must have prior approval from Windblume. Such requests should be directed to info@fandomevents.org

 

Exhibitors are reminded that all participants in mock battles must not damage convention center, Windblume, or other Exhibitor property and must be extremely careful not to endanger or injure bystanders.

 

Contacting Windblume about the Weapons Policy 

 

If you have any questions regarding the Weapons Policy, please contact Windblumeprior to the convention at cosplay@fandomevents.org

 

For any questions regarding weapons, which weapons can be sold in Texas, and what constitutes proper wrapping, please contact the Weapons Master via the contact information provided above.

 

While the Weapons Master may offer advice prior to the convention on which weapons are appropriate, Windblume reserves the right to determine the admissibility of any weapon at the time of the convention, regardless of any prior information provided.