Please read this entire policy before attending Seattle Worldcon 2025. It is part of the Code of Conduct required of members. Compliance with the Weapons Policy is mandatory for all attendees. Seattle Worldcon 2025, in conjunction with the venue staff where relevant, reserves the right to consider any weapon or prop to be in violation of these rules if, in the judgment of the convention services division head, it is deemed to be unsafe or likely to cause undue disruption. A violation of this policy may lead to the revocation of the member’s badge and ability to attend the convention. Furthermore, venue staff may take action regardless of any decision by the convention services division head.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED INSIDE CONVENTION OR HOTEL SPACE: tasers, stun-guns, batons, real firearms (including but not limited to hand-guns, pistols, rifles, shot-guns, black-powder loaded, semi-auto or full-automatic weapons, other); pepper spray, chemical mace, tear gas, crossbows, slingshots, pellet guns, water pistols, blowguns, catapults, any type of functioning projectile weapon, and fixed-blade knives with a length greater than three inches. In short, no real weapon is allowed in the facility, even if you have a license.
Some of our dealers may be selling prop weapons or real weapons. Should a person purchase a real weapon in the dealers’ room, the dealer must wrap it fully for the purchaser, who must take it immediately from convention space to either the person’s hotel room or car. It may not be carried any longer than the time needed to exit convention space. Should the member return to convention space with the real weapon, whether wrapped or not, they may be excluded from the convention without refund. Any prop weapons must be immediately taken to peacebonding if a member wishes to carry them in convention space.
“Peacebonding” is required on all prop and replica weapons carried by or worn by any member in all areas of the convention. This includes both the Summit Building and the Sheraton Hotel. Peacebonding will be available next to the Information Table during open registration hours. The only type of peacebonding allowed is that provided by the convention.
Any toy “side arms,” such as disruptors, phasers, laser tag pistols/rifles, sonic screwdrivers, laser pointers, or any other item that can project/emit light or sound, even if obviously a toy, shall be peacebonded, and shall remain in an appropriate holster at all times or held in an appropriate manner.
The carrying, display, or use of any real or realistic weapon intended as part of a masquerade costume requires the advance permission of both the convention services division head and the masquerade director or designee. The item shall not be brought into the convention until needed for the masquerade.
