March 14, 2002

Letter from Apec's Peter Kang.

To our Loyal Customers:

As you may know, the introduction of bill c68 in 1998 prohibited the sale of Replicas. Since then, the federal government has been trying to use the regulations to include airsoft guns in the same category as Replicas.

When the bill was first introduced, the definition of Replica was as follows. "A replica is any device that resembles with near precision a firearm but cannot fire projectiles is classified as a Replica. " The law was written this way so that it would allow traditional pellet firing air guns such as Crossman or Daisy to be allowed to be sold.

There was a meeting just before Bill C68 came into power. The meeting was between Chief Firearms officers from each province, officials representing the government and people who were going to be affected by the new law. Airsoft guns were demonstrated to the government and it was argued that because they were pellet-shooting devices they should not be classified as replicas nor be in the same category as the daisy or crossman air guns. From this meeting, the government officials, who were not familiar with airsoft guns, came to a decision to try and ban airsoft guns.

Before the law had come into effect, the federal government had changed the wording of the law WITHOUT PROPER PARLIAMENTARY debate to somehow try and ban airsoft guns while allowing the Crossman and Daisy ones to be remain. We all know that in appearance that the Daisy and Crossman guns are identical and serve the same purpose as Airsoft guns. Why then, should one be discriminated against, if they are exactly the same?

Fortunately some provincial authorities took our view and exempted airsoft guns from being classified as replicas.

Since then, there has been opposition with the Federal government over this and other issues. The federal government has now announced that it would seize provincial authority and take over as the administration of the firearms act.

We have been notified that in two weeks time that we must sell all airsoft related products and after that time we cannot sell airsoft guns to the public any longer. So we are now announcing that all regular airsoft guns will not be sold after 14 days time.

This is subject to appeal and rest assured that Asia Pacific will continue fighting federal regulations. May 9th, 2002 we have an appeal hearing set and we wish your support at that time.

What this means.

It means Apec will no longer be selling gas blow back guns , aeg's or bolt action rifles after our 14 day limit is up. You may continue to own airsoft guns but cannot transfer them or sell them to anyone else.

If we win our appeal perhaps at that time we may continue to sell airsoft guns .

If we lose our appeal we can sell only bolt action spring guns and electric airsoft guns that have been modified but the price of the modifications will increase the price of every airsoft by 2 to 300 hundred dollars.

Old News:
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