Anyone have any cross border shipping experience with these? CSMacLaren did a little hunting and found that replicas should be painted orange and may be opened and inspected at my expense.
Bright orange paint (or any colour)
makes no difference whatsoever. Airsoft is considered replica firearms in the eyes of the law. Replica firearms are banned in Canada.
The only way of importing one yourself is if the majority of the gun (especially the receiver) is made of
clear plastic.
Anything else and if Customs opens it- they will seize it and issue you a warning for the Prohibited Importations Unit.
I know because I had an airsoft Thompson seized back in 2006. My choice was to appeal the seizure in a Court of Law, send the item back to its point of origin, or allow it to be destroyed by Customs Canada.
Oh by the way- if I wanted to send it back, I would have to use a Customs Canada approved Bonded Carrier. But before that I would need to apply for a prohibited items export permit. THAT is only given to people with business licences- no business licence, no permit, no way to send it back.
Trust me on this-
do not try to import airsoft yourself. You are taking a chance of getting caught. The item being seized is the least of your worries- importing a prohibited device carries a sentence of five years if they really want to throw the book at you.
Certainly not worth making a blaster.
If it is already in Canada- you are less likely to "get caught" if it is mailed to you.
Which is another point- airsoft was banned in Canada in 1998, but anyone owning an airsoft gun was allowed to keep it. However they are not allowed to sell it, trade it, or even give it away. If you no longer want your airsoft gun, your only option is to turn it into the police to be properly disposed of.
Sure you could take a chance, and yeah you might not get caught. Not worth the loss of money and potential criminal record.
Kevin
