Op: Go to Canada?

[Ed]

Here's the deal: there is a large airsoft game happening in Canada this summer.  It's called Op: Capitol Thunder II happening in Ottowa, Ontario.  It's a 24 hour game that is supposed to attract a large audience.  Last year they boasted over 100 people, they say that this time it will be 200+.  August 17 and 18 are the dates.  The drive might be a little long, but MiA won't be having a 200 person scenario game very soon.  I think it will be good to represent our fledgelign players groop.  Well, the stats will speak for themselves.

[Bigmack]

i'm not explaining my G3 SG/1 to any border guards...
i'd like to keep my gun a while longer, thank you, much...

[JackStraw]

This sounds great, but the *real* event could be the border crossing.  Our current "climate" makes crossing the border with any weapon, real or fake, something I would avoid at all costs.  Explaining it could be a real pain in the ass, as could the searching of your belongings, the tear down of your vehicle and the possibility of "other searches" which involve latex gloves (ouch....grrrrr.....wimper).

I'm even a bit concerned about a camping trip to Northern Canada I'm planning for late Summer.  Not because I'm bringing anything illegal or questionable across (although I do love my knives!), but I don't want to have to re-pack everything.  I'm not one to pack light - nope, everything goes!

Nah, think I'll skip it this time.  Sounds fraught with peril.

Edit:  Just re-read your initial post.  Those dates are when I'll be in the wilderness of Northern Ontario.

[Ed]

The reason why I would like to go to Canada is because I want to go to a large game; a game where many many people could play and I could have fun.  I have seen games like Savage Garden in California or Desert Storm in Arizona where hundreds of airsofters from around the world come to play and talk.  I know that Michigan is very far from large scenarios and I think Canada is the closest location where a game of this magnatude would be held.

I know of people who cross the border to hunt.  I also know that you can travel with an unloaded gun when you fly on a plane (as long as it's checked as luggage).  I know that there might be some initial fears of going to Canada, but it's perfectly legal to transport airsoft guns across the border.  No one will take it away.  Did anybody vote "no" because they thought it was illegal?

I have found the official site of the Capitol Thunder.  If we can't make it this time, there are a lot of games in Canada going on other times during the summer.  Here it is:

members.rogers.com/capitalthunder2/

Take a look at the pics.  It looks like a lot of fun.

[Robo]

thats true ed we may not be doing anything illegal, but i still remember waiting hours at the border several times for doing absolutley nothing that could even be suspicious!  now if we had replica assault rifles...who knows what would happen  the people ive encountered at the border during searches have always been smart asses theyre rude , strict, and very hard to understand , and id really hate to try to explain airsoft to them  so count me out, sorry

sounds  like lots of fun though!!!

[Locutus]

Hey guys, Blade and Punisher of www.AirsoftToys.com are Canadian, and make many trips up to Canada every year. They frequently take thier replicas with them, and have never encountered a problem.

[soldat]

I was just looking at the site for that game and I would love to go the problem is I don't know how I would get there

[Robo]

locutus, have they ever been searched? or have any of the border guards even known they had airsoft guns with them?

[Locutus]

Not sure, I will see if I cant get one of them to comment on that here.

[Ed]

Locutus said:

Hey guys, Blade and Punisher of www.AirsoftToys.com are Canadian, and make many trips up to Canada every year. They frequently take thier replicas with them, and have never encountered a problem.

Loc is right...this time  .  Robo: I know where you are coming from, but you have never crossed the border with airsoft guns.  I think a lot of people are getting paranoid and I don't think that paranoia should get in the way of fun.  If we are careful and safe (ie don't wear your camo to the border crossing), then we shouldn't have a problem.  Remember this is the biggest 24 hour scenario in North America...I would also like to make it a tradition to go to one big airsoft game a year, like a pilgrimage.

If anybody needs a ride, I'm sure the FH guys will be taking at least 2 cars.  Maybe more if me and my parents can finance one for me this summer.

Also: this is a HARDCORE 24-game!  You can't leave the area whenever you want to like in Paintball.  There are places where you can eat, go to the bathroom and load up, but they want to keep everyone on the field for the duration of the game.  They want to stress team work and loyalty, which makes me only more interested in going.

One more thing.  I hope everybody doesn't get caught up on this whole Canada thing.  Me and my friends take road trips all the time, they are really REALLY fun.  An MiA road trip to a huge airsoft scenario seems like a great idea.  We could even get the AO guys in on it.  I know I say a lot of stupid shit but this must be one of my better ideas.  It's your guys' choice but I know that I'll have fun.

[francois.crepeau@airsofttoys.c]

As Locutus said, we crossed the borders several times with guns and gas and bbs and mags and so far, nothing happened even if every time, i'm stopping by the custom office asking if I can cross with an airsoft gun.

I'm not saying that the risk is not there but as long as you keep it legal (trademark and orange barrel) you should be ok.  Just so you know guys, we have to go to Canada with few guns before the end of the month so I could give you an update if you want....

Blade

[Ed]

Thanks.

Did you go to Capitol Thunder last year?  If so how was it?