Weapons at Sac-Con

Weapons NOT Permitted at Sac-Con include, but are not limited to the following:

• NO LIVE STEEL at all will be permitted on the premises of the convention.
  Live steel is defined as:
  • Swords, bayonets, and knives (regardless of whether or not they are sheathed)
  • Star knives and shurikens
  • Metal armor, including chainmail
  • Other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp.
  • Metal studs or chains on costumes or other metal components of costumes/props may also be subject to approval by SacAnime.
• NO GUNS OR PROJECTILE LAUNCHERS OF ANY KIND will be permitted. Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • Airsoft guns, any and all kinds, regardless of whether or not it is functional. A non-functional airsoft gun with no moving parts is still an airsoft gun.
  • BB guns and pellet guns
  • Bows*, Crossbows, dart guns, and blowguns (* Prop bows with no string may be permitted but must be cleared by security first.)
  • Functional water guns or water pistols
  • Stun guns and tasers
  • The ONLY exception to this rule will be prop guns or resin models that are easily identifiable as toys, provided that they possess no moving parts and are clearly marked with a non-removable orange tip.
• NO “PADDLES,” of any sort will be permitted at the convention.
  • This includes, but is not limited to Yaoi/Yuri Paddles.
• NO NUNCHAKU of any kind will be permitted.
• NO EXPLOSIVES or CHEMICALS of any kind including, but not limited to:
  • smoke powder, sparklers, or fireworks of any kind
• Finally, if it is illegal outside in the City of Sacramento and/or State of California, it is illegal inside the convention.

Illegal weapons will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Weapons Permitted

• Staves, bo sticks, boken, shinai, and wooden swords will be permitted as long as they are handled responsibly and meet all other criteria.
• Fake, prop, or made-up weapons (i.e. made of tissue paper, plaster of Paris, cloth) are permitted if they are safe and not dangerous to others around you.
  • Examples of dangerous conditions include, but are not limited to, items that may trip others, items that can snag on people or surroundings, items that obstruct doors and hallways.
• Prop weapons shall be limited to less than six feet, six inches (6’6″) in height and less than fifty pounds (50lbs) in weight.
• Any metal chains are to be less than three feet (3’) in length. This includes, but is not limited to chain wallets or any non-costume chains as well.

Behavior with Weapons/Props

• Misuse of a weapon or prop, such as swinging it in a public area or posing a hazard to others, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the convention, and you will be asked to remove the item from the convention area.
• Any weapon (including Airsoft guns) purchased in the Vendors Room must be boxed and removed from convention area immediately, and should remain boxed and stored in your private quarters or vehicle.
• All props and weapons brought into the convention may be inspected and either approved or rejected by SacAnime staff (see Peace Bonding), including those that may have had prior approval (other conventions, previous conventions, or pre-convention approval by Sac-Con staff).
• Any item that poses a potential safety hazard may need to be removed from the convention.
  • This includes any costume, prop, or accessory that obstructs doors or hallways, or otherwise poses any kind of danger to other attendees, staff, or Scottish Rite Center property.
• When in doubt, check with Sac-Con staff. Also please note that just because a staff member has not stopped you to check your item does not mean that the item is allowed

All decisions made by Sac-Con and/or the Public Safety Staff of the venue are final.

Peace Bonding Policy

It is Sac-Con’s goal to provide a safe and family oriented convention. We require that all weapons, costume props, and any costume item that could be considered a weapon be taken to the peace bonding table for inspection upon entering the convention. If you purchase an item (s) that you would like to use as a prop for your costume that could be considered a weapon or dangerous (*see weapons policy) then you are required to clear it through peace bonding.

We do not allow concealed weapons. Your cosplay weapon may be zip-tied into the holster or sheath and may not be removed during the convention. All props and weapons must be certified regardless of whether or not they were peace bonded at a different convention or at a previous Sac-Con.

Sac-Con’s peace bonding station is there to ensure safety for all attendees in regards to the use of all weapons and/or props. Though we are not enforcing all the rules other conventions have, we have rules and guidelines for you to better understand our policy:

PEACE BONDING GUIDELINES

The effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, of the item or the skill, or lack of skill, of the person in possession of the item is irrelevant when determining whether or not it is a weapon.

All weapons & props must be approved at the peace bonding table upon entering the convention.

If you purchase a weapon or prop such as: swords, knives, stars, air soft guns, plastic pellet guns, gun blades, wooden katanas, Kendo sticks, etc. and you intend to carry it around the convention as a prop you need to take it to peace bonding to have it approved.

If you do not intend to use it as a prop, we would appreciate it if you kept it in the packaging and placed it in your vehicle.