Canadian police seize two airsoft guns after a weapons call

Police in Abbotsford, British Columbia have warned the public against carrying replica guns after officers responded to a report of a man with a handgun on Saturday 19/09/2026. The man turned out to be carrying two airsoft guns. The incident was reported by the Abbotsford News on 21/09/2026.

The Abbotsford Police Department received the call at around 7:35 pm. A caller said a man had a handgun tucked into his waistband in the Station Road area. Officers found him near Fraser Highway and 273rd Street.

He was carrying two airsoft guns, one in his waistband and the other in a briefcase. He was not charged over the replicas, but he was given a violation ticket for having open liquor.

The police message

In a release on 20/09/2026, the department said officers responding to a report of a firearm have to treat it as real until they can prove otherwise. It added that carrying replicas in public creates unnecessary risk for everyone involved.

That is a message we hear from police forces on both sides of the Atlantic. An officer arriving at a call about a gun cannot tell from a distance whether the object is a firearm or a replica, and the decisions made in those first seconds can have very serious consequences for everyone present.

The wider picture

Canada has its own rules on replica firearms, which differ from those in the UK. The same basic issue applies everywhere, however. A replica that looks real is treated as real by anyone who sees it in the street, including the police.

In the UK, carrying an imitation firearm in a public place without a reasonable excuse is an offence, and the defence for buying a realistic imitation firearm assumes it will be used at a proper venue. Responsible players already keep their replicas in a closed bag or case from home to the site.

What it means for players

Incidents like this one rarely involve people who play at a site. They still affect the hobby, because each one adds to pressure on lawmakers and makes the public more wary of replicas in general. The simplest thing players can do is keep their kit out of sight when travelling and make sure newer or younger players understand why.

We will report on any further action by the Abbotsford Police or on changes to the rules in British Columbia.