A-Kon® understands the desire of many fans to carry props during the convention to support a costume or character. While we could allow everyone to bring their homemade guns / knives / seven-foot long pole arms, we unfortunately must place limits on what you can safely carry around during the convention at large, and what you may use onstage during the cosplay.

A-Kon® reserves the right to refuse the entry of any prop or weapon it decides is unfit for the convention. All props or weapons must support the overall look of a costume or character. Wearing a prop or weapon for its own sake is not allowed. Misuse of a prop or weapon can be considered grounds for removal or ejection from the convention. Any display of an item in an aggressive or threatening manner, real or implied regardless of intent, or any other activity thought to be unsafe in the view of the Staff Head of Kon Patrol is strictly forbidden.

At any time, should a Director or Project Manager on the Phoenix Entertainment board see a weapon being carried or being used in an unsafe manner, the individual will be brought to the attention of Staff Head of Kon Patrol.

All sales of weapons, or replicas, will take place in the vendor’s room. Upon purchase, you may be asked by Vendors room staff or Kon Patrol to take appropriate steps to seal the item in a bag and remove it to a hotel room or vehicle. 

Construction

Construction materials play a key role in what is to be allowed or not allowed for general use and display at A-Kon®. 

The use of metals, hard woods, and industrial plastics are not encouraged as they tend to leave sharp or pointed edges and make items too heavy. We have to worry about drop hazards since you will be carrying this for most of the day.  

Soft woods such as balsa or fir woods or light rattan make excellent choices for building materials as they are neither heavy nor hard if an accident occurs and someone is inadvertently stuck. (Another suggested material construction method is to layer cardboard (3 pieces) together using hot glue. Then just bevel the edges by slicing away a bit of the first and third piece at the blade edge and fill it in with some Model Magic making sure that the resultant edge is rounded and not sharp.)

Sharp edges on any material are not permitted, and must be filed, padded, or otherwise protected against unwanted contact.

A point on any material that is not soft to the touch (such as soft foam or fabric) is not allowed. Soft to the touch should at least have a one half inch give to it when pushed with a finger on the actual tip. If a soft tip is created, the underlying structure must support safely as well in case the underlying structure is exposed.

The use of varnish, shellac, or any other coating to make a soft weapon have a hard exterior is forbidden. The definition of "hard" in this case is a hardness that exceeds that such as raw balsa or fir woods.

Materials that can shatter, such as glass or brittle plastics, are not permitted.

Weapons

Staves are acceptable as long as they are carried as a walking stick with one point on the ground. There are a lot of people in tight walkways so having it over the shoulder can cause accidents. As with all weapons, they must be checked in with Kon Patrol and tagged. 

Any firearm that has the firing pin removed or barrel filled to make it unusable is still considered a "real weapon" and is not allowed, as it can be misconstrued by Dallas PD or convention staff to be a threat.

Replica and futuristic firearms are allowed only if such weapon cannot be misconstrued by Kon Patrol to be a real firearm. A cap made of bright colored plastic (orange, red, yellow) may be placed OVER the end of the barrel and secured against removal. This includes any weapon that may be "fired" such as a homemade replica meant to duplicate a character's weapon that you are portraying. While an obviously non-lethal weapon such as a water gun is allowed as a prop, filling said prop with water passes it into non-acceptable weapons group and is subject to removal from the convention.

Bows or other manual projectile replicas are allowed only if they are rendered incapable of firing a projectile. Airsoft weapons in any configuration are not allowed as props. Because Airsoft and other weapons are sold in the dealers room, a distinction must be made: all items purchased in the dealers room are merchandise until they are removed from their packaging, at which time they fall under the weapons policy, including, but not limited to knives, staves, airsoft weapons, projectile weapons, and combative clothing (such as metal wrist spikes.)

Any weapon purchased at the dealer's room must be wrapped before leaving the vendor’s table so that it is not recognized as said weapon and then immediately taken to a room or car.

Personal firearms, while permitted by the State of Texas for individuals with a valid and current license for a concealed handgun, are not allowed into any convention space regardless of reason. Any individual caught with such weapon in a convention space will be asked to leave convention space and/or reported to local authorities. 

If you are under 18 you are not allowed to carry Bokken, live steel swords or and hard wood weapon. This is per the law and officers might ticket you and your parents if caught. 

Costumes

Costumes that could be confused with local, state, or federal law enforcement of any kind are not permitted on the convention floor. Kon Patrol reserves the right to determine if a uniform or costume resembles an unacceptable real world uniform at its sole and absolute discretion. Any and all costume and prop restrictions for the Main Programming Cosplay event will be at the discretion of the A-Kon® Cosplay Staff and not Kon Patrol.

Signs are not allowed in any shape form or fashion. This includes, but is not limited to cardboard, poster board, notebook paper or shirts you have written things such as “hug me” glomp me, or any other request to be touched or fondled. 

Exceptions

Some replica weapons such as swords or other props integral to a costume may be presented to Kon Patrol at the kiosk for consideration of peace bonding. Peace bonding is the securing by Kon Patrol of a weapon so that it cannot be drawn or used. Any tampering of the peace bonding is a violation of the weapons policy and is subject to removal from the convention.

The Dallas Police Department will be present on site, and they have the right to require removal of an item, above and beyond convention Kon Patrol.

Tags: cosplay, safety, weapons