Prop weapons must be submitted to “Weapons Check” for Peace Bonding. TouhouFest has the sole discretion to approve prop weapons. Please visit us at one of our Weapons Check booths during the Event. Locations are to be determined and announced on our website at touhoufest.com. Other TouhouFest Weapons Check booth locations shall be designated in the programs and on signs.

We may revoke your Peace Bond at any time in our sole discretion. Behavior which will warrant revocation of your Peace Bond includes:

• Brandishing an item in an inappropriate fashion, such as play-fighting or swinging the prop around

• Causing complaints from other attendees of the Event

• Tampering or altering of the Peace Bond

Prop Weapons

Prop weapons are inoperable weapons that support the overall look of your costume or character. For example, plastic Airsoft guns, Nerf guns, water guns, dart guns, disc guns, pellet guns, and cap guns are prop weapons.

Peace Bonding Rules

If a prop weapon is, or was, at any time capable of firing anything, it must be rendered permanently inoperable in order to qualify for Peace Bonding. You can do this by, for example, permanently plugging the barrel with glue, caulk, or any non-removable substance and hot gluing all moving components of the prop in place. You must be able to prove that the prop weapon is permanently inoperable upon inspection.

In addition, to qualify for Peace Bonding, your prop weapon must meet the following criteria:

• All bladed props, prop firearms and prop knives cannot contain metal, have metal components, or have metal-based paints on them.

• Note: Lightsabers with metal hilts are allowed.

• Prop explosives or ammunition cannot be made out of metal.

• All swords and bladed prop weapons must adhere to the following rules:

• They cannot be made out of metal

• If your non-metal blade has a sharp edge or pointed tip, it must be anchored to a hard sheath for the duration of the Event

• If you do not have a hard sheath, your non-metal blade must have a blunt edge and blunt tip

• All prop bows must be unstrung or have a low-tensile thread with no draw weight and be incapable of shooting.

• All prop arrows must have blunt non-metal tips.

• Metal chains are not permitted unless it is for cosplay and affixed to a piece of clothing and/or armor.

If your prop weapon is a toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm, then federal regulations (15 CFR § 272.3) require that it either be translucent enough to, permit unmistakable observation of the device’s complete contents or must have at least one of the following:

• An Orange Solid Plug in Barrel: Have a blaze orange (Fed-Std-595B 12199) or orange color brighter than that specified by the federal standard color number solid plug permanently affixed to the muzzle end of the barrel as an integral part of the entire device and recessed no more than 6 millimeters from the muzzle end of the barrel; or

• An Orange Barrel Marking: A blaze orange (Fed-Std-595B 12199) or orange color brighter than that specified by the federal standard color number, marking permanently affixed to the exterior surface of the barrel, covering the circumference of the barrel from the muzzle end for a depth of at least 6 millimeters; or

• Entire Surface Coloration: Coloration of the entire exterior surface of the device in white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern.

Please take care when outside or when transporting any form of firearm prop.

Regardless of how realistic the prop may look, ensure that it is completely hidden while traveling and be aware of your surroundings, attire, and the appearance of your props to bystanders when outside of TouhouFest. Do not assume a costume will reassure people that your prop is not a real weapon.

Peace-Bonded Weapons at TouhouFest

You may display your prop weapons only as costume pieces. Do not swing or brandish your prop weapon in any way that could be considered unsafe or threatening.

You may pose with a prop weapon in a brandishing manner, so long as no reasonable person would interpret it as anything but a pose for dramatic effect. TouhouFest staff or management may stop your posed brandishing in their sole discretion.

Please put your prop weapons away when leaving the Event site at night so that you don’t get the attention of local law enforcement. TouhouFest cannot be responsible for any actions taken by local law enforcement agencies, such as detaining and questioning you, if you decide to display or brandish your prop weapons at or outside of TouhouFest.