Kin-Yoobi Con Weapons Policy

Overview
Costuming is a huge part of the fun of Kin-Yoobi Con. Cosplaying and the Cosplay competition is the convention’s most popular event, after all. With the amount of action entertainment included in animation and video games, props and weapons included with costumes while cosplaying is a given. Kin-Yoobi Con encourages the use of props and fake weapons as costume accessories. The purpose of Kin-Yoobi Con’s weapons policy is to ensure that attendees will have the safest and most fun experience with cosplay at the convention.

Peace-bonding
To keep the use of weapons and/or props fun and safe, Kin-Yoobi Con requires that all carried weapons/props are peace-bonded as soon as possible upon entering the convention which includes all public hotel space.
Peace-Bonding is the process of taking an attendee’s weapon or prop, and putting a Peace-Bond (essentially a zip tie) on it in order to both mark that they’ve agreed to abide by the weapons policy, and, in some cases, make it unusable.  
Peace-bonding is ultimately an agreement between the attendee and Kin-Yoobi Con staff to keep weapons/props use fun and safe. By peace-bonding your weapon/prop you agree to be responsible for and responsible with your weapon. You agree that you will not brandish it, threaten anyone with, or use your prop. You agree not to damage other attendees or convention property. And you agree not to use your weapon to fight or play-fight with anyone else on convention property.

Prohibited Weapons and Props
Of course, there are some weapons/props which are not permitted at Kin-Yoobi Con.
Real Weapons and Illegal Weapons as defined by California State Law are not permitted.
Concealed weapons are not permitted, regardless of licensing status. 
Live Steel is not permitted. Swords, knives, or other metal objects which have, or could take an edge are defined as live steel, whether sharp or not. Unsharpened steel may be bound into a scabbard and attached to the costume. Unsharpened steel cannot be carried on convention and hotel grounds without it being sheathed. Sharpened Steel is not permitted, sheathed or not.

Guns and Projectile Weapons are not permitted. Examples include, but are not limited to: live guns, live gun replicas, pellet guns, BB guns, Airsoft guns, paintball guns, dart guns, filled water guns, blow guns, or crossbows. The functionality of the prop is irrelevant. Flail Weapons are not permitted, and many are illegal in the state of California.
Examples of flail weapons include but are not limited to: whips, floggers, maces, nunchaku, or similar weapons with parts attached by chain, rope, or string.
Incendiary Devices are not permitted. Any devices which spark, shoot flame, burn, smolder, could otherwise self-initiate combustion or which exist for no other purpose than to be lit with a combustion device are considered incendiary devices.   Solicitous props are not permitted which include but are not limited to: “Hug Me” signs and T-shirts, and yaoi/yuri paddles.

Permitted Props
Of all the weapons and props restricted at Kin-Yoobi Con, there are many more props that are actually allowed. Remember, it is possible to replicate the weapon or prop you desire within the confines of allowed props without too much effort and imagination.
Kin-Yoobi Con permits and encourages props made of cardboard, papier-mâché, plastic, wood, enamel or other materials so long as they do not break the Kin-Yoobi Con weapons policy or State law. They should be brought to the peace-bonding station for review.
Kin-Yoobi Con permits Prop/Toy Guns which are clearly props- such as phasers- or which possess no moving parts and are clearly marked with non-removable orange tip, or colored in a bright safety color, with the requirement that they are peace-bonded into a holster. Kin-Yoobi Con permits empty water guns to be carried if they are bonded with a pulled trigger.

Kin-Yoobi Con permits Staves, Staffs & non-metal Swords such as bo sticks, boken, shinai, wooden, and plastic swords which are acceptable as long as they are ornamental and in no way used as weapons. They shall be peace-bonded in such a way that it is not possible to draw them. Items such as walking sticks or canes however may be carried without being peace bonded, but Kin-Yoobi Con staff may deem at any time an item to be a weapon, and thus subject to the weapons policy.
Bows are permitted only if they have no tension and may be required to be peace-bonded in an unstrung position whether they are strung or not. Arrows are only permitted if they have no tip and must be carried in a quiver only. 
Weapons and Props in general but specifically regarding ones not explicitly listed are to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and will be peace-bonded at the discretion of a Kin-Yoobi Con Staff. Kin-Yoobi Con reserves the right to add weapons or props to the permitted or prohibited list as needed.

Selling and Purchasing Weapons
Vendors selling weapons at Kin-Yoobi Con must follow Federal, State, and Local laws and statutes. Venders must not sell weapons to minors. Weapons that are to be sold must be in a box, bag, or other device rendering it ineffective and inaccessible while remaining within applicable laws for concealed weapons. Weapons must not be carried around loose or where they can be used.

Once a weapon is purchased at Kin-Yoobi Con it must not be carried around. Instead the weapon must be immediately removed from the convention area which includes all the public hotel space. Weapons can be stored in a hotel room or car.

Kin-Yoobi Con reserves the right to amend, clarify, or update these rules at any time.