For Beautiful Convention Life

The Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) Weapons Policy is a summary of items that are allowed at the convention. This policy covers the Convention Venues (The Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Cobb Galleria Centre, the Galleria Specialty Mall, and the adjoining parking lots and decks).

Security (Convention, Hotel, Convention Center, and local law enforcement) will be present at all times during the convention. At both venues, you will be under observation, even if you don't have a weapon or wearing a costume.

No live steel (real swords, daggers, knives, metal items with sharp edges)

You are not allowed to carry or possess any real working weapons at AWA and the Convention Venues.

Firearms and ammunition of any and all sorts, rifles, shotguns, hand guns, BB guns,pellet guns, cap guns, air-soft weapons, paintball guns, blow guns, tazers, explosives, knives, swords (including katana and other martial arts style swords), daggers, sword canes, switchblades, bali-song(butterfly) knives, axes, hatchets, pole arms, staffs, clubs, wooden or metal bats and paddles, bows, arrows, martial arts weapons, brass knuckles, chains, whips, pepper spray, mace, and any projectile item, toy or real, whether or not such Real Working Weapon is loaded, broken, or then-currently in firing or useable condition.

All weapons brought to the convention are subject to inspection.

Weapons sold in the Dealers Room can only be purchased by mail order and are shown for display only.

PROP AND REPLICA WEAPONS

Prop and Replica weapons are allowed at AWA.

Prop weapons are homemade or commercially rendered costume props that support the overall look of a costume or character.

Prop weapons made of wood, cardboard, cloth, or foam are allowed at AWA and are subject to inspection.

Specific weapons of a large size (7 feet and over in length) and weight (15 lbs. or more) will not be permitted.

Weapons that are too realistic must be peace bonded or removed from the convention.

A Peace Bonded weapon is an item that has been inspected by AWA security and has been secured so that said item can be recognized as a non-lethal weapon by means of identification.

All weapons are subject to inspection for peace bonding and any item used for such purpose can not be removed by the attendee. Removal of peace bonding material constitutes a violation of the Weapons Policy and could result in expulsion from the convention.

WEAPON INSPECTIONS MUST BE PERMITTED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ATTENDANCE AT CONVENTION

In order to protect their own safety and that of others, AWA attendees understand, agree

to, and consent that designated AWA representatives or security personnel throughout the convention have an absolute right to inspect costumes, weapons, and any other items, and that they will submit to such an inspection. Any attendee must submit their costumes, weapons, and other items to an immediate inspection upon request or must leave the convention. In the event a person declines to submit to an inspection and refuses to leave, they shall be immediately expelled from the convention and escorted off the premises.

Only AWA may determine whether any particular item covered by this policy is permitted or not permitted at AWA and such determination is solely, exclusively, and absolutely at the discretion of AWA. Persons who do not cooperate with the determinations of AWA concerning the application of this policy to any particular item may be immediately expelled from the convention. If it is later discovered that a person brought a working weapon to any current or prior year AWA, that person may be banned from attending future conventions.

PERSONS WHO CARRY OR OTHERWISE BRING PROP WEAPONS, REPLICAS, OR SIMILAR ITEMS DO SO AT THEIR OWN, SOLE, AND ABSOLUTE RISK, AND ASSUME ALL RISKS OF LIABILITY, HARM, DAMAGE, OR LOSS TO ANY PERSON OR PROPERTY INJURED OR OTHERWISE HARMED, INTENTIONALLY OR ACCIDENTLY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY SUCH ITEMS OR THE PERSON CARRYING THEM.

ANIME WEEKEND ATLANTA, INC. IS AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY, HARM, DAMAGE, OR OTHER RISK OR LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PERSON’S USE OF ANY WEAPON, REPLICA, OR PROP, WHETHER PERMITTED OR BANNED HEREUNDER, AT AWA.

IN NO EVENT SHALL AWA, AWA INC.AND ITS AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, OR THE RENAISSANCE WAVERLY HOTEL AND THE COBB GALLERIA CENTRE HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES HEREUNDER, EVEN IF INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SAME.