What is the current status of airsoft guns with respect to the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency?
An internal policy document for the CCRA, commonly referred to as a D-memo, identifies airsoft guns as replica firearms under the current Firearms Act. Based on that policy, the CCRA has stated that it is illegal for unlicensed individuals to import airsoft guns. The CCRA regularly seizes such imports as set out under existing operational policies and practices. However, the internal D-memo used by the CCRA is based on an interpretation of legislation. The policy document is not law in and of itself, nor has the ruling of the CCRA been tested in a court of law. The Canadian Airsoft Community has identified serious concerns in the data used to draft standards for modern airguns, with particular sections using data collected over 100 years ago during the American Civil War. The Canadian Airsoft Community does not feel that such data accurately reflects the battery-driven gearboxes and compressed air springs used in most airsoft guns. The Canadian Airsoft Community has also collected docu
