IMPORTANT: DO NOT CARRY PROP WEAPONS OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER IN PUBLIC! The Tampa Police Department will treat anyone carrying real-looking guns or wearing tactical gear as a REAL THREAT AND WILL TAKE SERIOUS ACTON! METROCON will not be held liable for any legal action, injury, or death that may result from a violation of this rule. If you have a costume that meets this description and you would like to wear it to METROCON, please carry it to the convention center in a bag and then change into it. In this day and age, you can not be too careful. Again, PLEASE use common sense.

BOWS/CROSSBOWS:
Bows and crossbows will only be permitted if they’re absolutely prop in nature – no tension on the string beyond what it takes to keep it straight, and arrows should not have any form of a tip.

BLADED WEAPONS:
NO EDGED STEEL! Swords, knives, and other bladed weapons MUST be of a prop nature: foil-wrapped cardboard, THIN painted wood, flexible plastic, etc. NO SHARP EDGES and/or POINTS are allowed. Bokken and other wooden weapons ARE permitted.

GUNS:
NO REAL GUNS may be used as props at METROCON, regardless of being unloaded, stripped down, barrel filled, or any other precaution that could be taken. Prop or toy firearms – such as Airsoft and BB guns, NERF guns, etc. – will be permitted so long as they have an orange tip at the end of the barrel, and can be easily identified as such from a distance. Plastic prop or toy firearms are preferred – metal or wooden prop or toy firearms will inevitably receive more scrutiny from both Weapons Check and the METROCON Staff throughout the weekend. In any case, Weapons Check will make sure it is unloaded of any ammunition, as well as zip tie the trigger so that the prop or toy gun is incapable of firing. Airsoft or BB guns that are electrically or gas powered, must be discharged – i.e. no CO2 canister, no charged battery or no battery at all, etc. If at any time you are caught with a prop or toy firearm not meeting any of these requirements, you will be instructed to have it checked at Weapons Check. Multiple infractions can result in your weapon being confiscated or you being ejected from the convention. METROCON maintains a zero tolerance policy on discharging a projectile, even from an approved prop or weapon. Water pistol, NERF gun, airsoft – it does not matter – discharge it, and you will be removed. These rules apply to any prop or toy firearms purchased in the dealer’s room (see below). There will be police at the convention, so please act accordingly.