Trek Long Island is a family-oriented show, and the rules regarding weapons are designed to keep everyone safe, so please be mindful when you choose your cosplay
Any item that Trek Long Island believes may be a weapon must be immediately taken to Weapons Check for examination. Weapons that Trek Long Island determines are admissible will be marked with an identifying tag. Any weapon that Trek Long Island considers to be inadmissible must be stored at Weapons Check or immediately removed from the event. Any prohibited (illegal) weapon must be removed from the event. 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 Trek Long Island.
DEFINITIONS
Weapon is defined as any item or object that the Criminal Code, the Weapons Master, or their
designate, considers to be a weapon.
Weapons Master is the representative of Trek Long Island who implements and enforces the
Weapons Policy- either directly or via designated staff. The decision of the Weapons Master, or
their designate, is final. These illegal weapons are banned from Trek Long Island and must be immediately removed from the convention centre. Trek Long Island reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.
Examples of Prohibited Weapons
If it is illegal outside the Festival, it is illegal inside the festival– and therefore banned from
Trek Long Island. Examples include (but are not limited to):
– Firearms of any kind;
– Bali-song (“butterfly knife”) or switchblade/drop blade style knives, and all similar items,
including butterfly combs;
– 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 and,
– Law enforcement items such as batons, Tasers, or mace.
– Foam replicas of these items are admissible, upon inspection, except Butterfly knives and
derivatives.
Examples of Weapons | Inadmissible and admissible
Trek Long Island reserves the right to determine the admissibility of any item or weapon, on a
case-by-case basis.
Inadmissible Projectile Weapons
– Working Airsoft/Tagball/Paintball pistols, rifles or other similar devices:
Admissible if all mechanism inside are pulled out and left home. They cannot be in
working state. Not having the gas container or projectiles isn’t enough, but is also
mandatory;
Please note that we will put a zip-tie around the trigger so that it can’t be used.
– Pellet guns, BB guns, or similar devices;
None, never, no matter what you did with it.
– Flintlock or muzzle loading weapons or similar devices (which are not considered “firearms”
under the law):
Admissible if completely unusable (filled with glue, no hole in the muzzle, no
mechanism, unworking replica, etc.);
Decommissioned firearms of any kind;
– Replica firearms and close imitations that can fire:
Admissible as long as they cannot fire (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.
Admissible Projectile Weapons, under certain conditions
– Nerf guns and other foam dart guns are admissible, but they must not have any foam darts
loaded at any time:
Please note that we will put a zip-tie around the trigger so that it can’t be used;
– Water guns:
Please note that you can’t shoot any liquid in the convention. The barrel has to be empty,
and we will put a zip-tie around the trigger so that it can’t be used.
– 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 only admissible
if they are made of foam or cardboard.
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;
-Blunt weapons (made of heavy wood, hard plastic, or metal) such as baseball bats, cricket bats,
and hockey sticks;
– All of this section (Inadmissible Swords, Blades, Knives and other Melee Weapons) is
admissible if the item is made of a light wood, or light plastic, or foam, and if it has blunt edges
and blunt points.
Admissible Swords, Blades, Knives and other Melee Weapons under certain conditions
– Canes and umbrellas are admissible as long as they are made of light wood, plastic or light
metal such as aluminium, and without any sharp edge or point:
Please note that if you use a cane in real life, you are allowed to use that cane in the
event;
– Light Bokkens (practice sword made of light wood);
– LARP sword, axe, etc., made of foam or latex.
Shields and Armour
– Wooden, plastic, and metal shields are admissible if they do not contain sharp edges nor any
sort of sharp spikes or other protrusions:
– Armours are admissible if they do not contain sharp edges nor any sort of sharp spikes or other
protrusions.
Miscellaneous
– Magic Wands are allowed as long as they are in plastic, foam or light wood or light metal such
as aluminium;
– Household items (wrench, spatula, frying pan, etc) are admissible as long as they are in plastic,
foam, or light wood or light metal such as aluminium;
– Real electric tools (drills, etc.) must be render unusable (no battery, no cord);
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 the Trek Long Island are inadmissible.
– There is no set weight limit for items, but Trek Long Island reserves the right to prohibit heavy
items on a case-by-case basis.
Lasers
– Trek Long Islandprohibits all laser pointers in the festival. If a prop or weapon includes a laser
pointer, it must be rendered non-functioning (e.g. batteries must be removed).
If you are still unsure, send us an email with a lot of details and pictures, if needed, and we’ll help you as best as we can at Treklongisland@gmail.com
Procedures
Trek Long Island reserves the right to require that any item entering the festival, or which is found
to be anywhere within the festival, be made available at any time for examination by
Trek Long Island staff to determine the item’s admissibility status.
Any item that Trek Long Island determines may be a weapon must be immediately taken to Weapons
Check for examination (or examined on the festival 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. Trek Long Island staff may escort the weapon to
Weapons Check. The Trek Long Island 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 festival. Tampering, altering or removing the tag during the festival may
result in the weapon being determined as inadmissible and/or the removal of the person from the
festival.
Inadmissible weapons must be stored at Weapons Check or immediately removed from the
festival.
Prohibited weapons must be immediately removed from the Trek Long Island. They cannot be
stored at Weapons Check. Trek Long Island reserves the right to notify law enforcement agencies.
Any inappropriate behaviour 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 Trek Long Island.
Refer to the Special Circumstances section below for the procedures related to Inadmissible
Weapons that are displayed, offered for sale, and purchased at the Trek Long Island.
Inadmissible Weapons stored at Weapons Check will be returned to individuals as they are
leaving the Trek Long Island.
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 event.
Any props or weapons left with the Weapons Master beyond the closing of Weapons Check on
Sunday become the property of Trek Long Island.
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 behaviour, 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 festival and/or other actions deemed appropriate by Trek Long Island.
Demonstrations
For safety reasons, Exhibitors must not conduct demonstrations of inadmissible weapons or other
items in the aisles or other similar areas. Such demonstrations should 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 festival. Exhibitors must remind the attendees
buying weapons that if they are found opening the packaging, 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 festival.
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, they may be confiscated.
If an Exhibitor wants to arrange for mock battles to show off their LARP weapons during
festival hours anywhere on the festival site, they must have prior approval from Trek Long Island.
Exhibitors are reminded that all participants in mock battles must not damage festival,
Trek Long Island, or other Exhibitor property and must be extremely careful not to endanger or injure
bystanders.
Contacting the Trek Long Islandabout the Weapons Policy
If you have any questions regarding the Weapons Policy, please contact Trek Long Island prior to the
convention at Treklongisland.com
*While the Weapons Master may offer advice prior to the convention on which weapons are
appropriate, Trek Long Island reserves the right to determine the admissibility of any weapon at the
time of the convention, regardless of any prior information provided.
