The airsoft community in Canada are alarmed once again as the dreaded Bill C-21 is back again at the House of Commons in Ottawa. Called “An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms)”, it was first filed in early 2021 but got shelved when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for parliamentary elections later in the year. With his Liberal Party winning once again, some were expecting that it may be filed again.

They were right, the bill got introduced once again and went through first reading on Monday, the 30th of May. Sponsored by the Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, the Bill will have provisions that will prohibit the importation, sale and use of replicas in Canada, which of course will ban airsoft in the country. As Airsoft In Canada posted on their Facebook page:

It is that time of year again. Airsoft is once again under attack by a new bill, also called C-21. Yes, this bill includes another direct attack on airsoft, but this deserves some digestible clarification for the community.

Previously, airsoft existed in a space where they were not prohibited devices because they were not deemed to be "replica firearms", as the definition of a "replica firearm" excludes objects that meet the definition of a firearm. Most airsoft toys circulating in Canada legally exist in a space coloquially known as "unregulated firearms", in that they meet the legal definition of a "firearm", the same as nail guns, paintball markers, etc. but did not meet the threshold for storage, transportation, and licensing requirements for controlled firearms. That threshold being a muzzle velocity of 152.4 m/s AND a muzzle energy of 5.7J.

The wording of this bill specifically targets devices that meet the definition of a firearm, but do not meet the threshold to require a firearm Possession and Acquisition License, and deems them to be prohibited devices if they subjectively resemble a firearm that does meet control thresholds.

For members of the Canadian airsoft community, it’s time for them to contact their member of parliament (MP) to state their opposition to the Bill C-21. They can also request an audience so they can discuss and come up with a commitment from their MP that they either take out the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code or have it further amended that will still allow the sales and use of airsoft guns.

Unlike before, it looks like the community is better prepared with Airsoft in Canada leading the campaign against Bill C-21. They will have to find allies from other organizations to come up with a broader response to it.

We’ll post updates on the progress of the bill as they come by.