After its defeat at the hands of the Liberal Party's own election, Bill C-21 has returned, and threatens the business of many airsoft shops and fields across Canada by banning the sale of any semi-realistic looking airsoft or paintball gun. In addition to closing down these facilities, Bill C-21 will also take away a safe and fun sport that thousands of Canadians partake in.

It should be noted that these proposed measures will not bring down instances of violent crime in Canada. The sale of toy guns does not impact the incidences of murder or mass shootings, or indeed even suicide by firearm. The only person that an airsoft gun can bring severe injury or death upon is the user, and this is only possible by bringing an airsoft gun into a public place or using one in the presence of law enforcement. Basic safety education on airsoft guns before the purchase of one could easily minimize the issue, and perhaps a mandatory online safety course could fix this issue entirely.

As someone who partakes in the sport, I can attest to the safety and enjoyment that comes from it. With rare exceptions, I have not heard of anyone sustaining serious injury or death as as a result of our sport, and neither I or anyone I know ever has ran into trouble with law enforcement because of it. Perhaps some form of licensing, membership or mandatory education before purchase would be an acceptable compromise to keep our sport allowed in this country, like the UK's UKARA.

Airsoft is allowed in many countries with stricter gun control than ours, and there is no evidence to suggest that this Bill will make Canadians safe, or do anything other than bring about unemployment for many and misery for many more. I implore everyone who signs this to contact your local MP, and bring about the change that will let us keep playing airsoft in the amazing country in which we live.

By signing, I hope everyone will come together in an attempt to both stop this harmful Bill, or at the very least omit the banning of airsoft guns from it. While this petition itself will not bring the end of the Bill, signing it will help raise awareness to the issue and help us as a community contact our government and bring about real change in preventing Bill C-21.

In addition to your signature, I would recommend each person send a letter or email to their local MP and urge them to take action against this bill. The more people who can sway their local MP into supporting the movement against this bill, the better.