This year, Airsoft Australia representative John C. Hanlon announced on the association’s website that their proposal for legislative and regulatory changes withing Queensland had been passed by the Ministers Weapons Review Committee. The changes along with recommendations from the Australian Police Ministers Council have bee forwarded to the Minister for approval.
Hanlon states that from the information he has received the new legislation could be enacted as early as December 2008.
Now for those who don’t know, Airsoft is a sport played often with realistic replica type weapons made to fire small plastic pellets at a non-lethal power. The proposed changes seem to include provisions for a license system to be created separate from the current firearms licenses. The proposal put forward by Airsoft Australia, from what I have read, is very openly worded allowing much leeway as to implementation. They have however asked that automatic weapons (almost essential to the sport) be allowed, specifying that even if replicas of military style automatic type weapons are still banned, replicas of category a/b type firearms be allowed to be modified to be fired automatically. It is unclear as to the likelihood of safe storage requirements although it is probably safe to say that some will be included along with some kind of provision for registration of individual airsoft guns.
This sport is played world over by dedicated groups of enthusiasts and the arms involved are often collected as curios, an alternative to collecting regular firearms. Even in extremely gun-controlled Japan and Hong Kong, airsoft guns may be freely bought and sold without a license. In New Zealand, airsoft guns are classified as air guns therefore they may not be purchased by anyone under 18 years of age, but again no license required. This is in stark contrast to Australia, where a category A license and a safe fixed to the floor or wall of your house is required to own a non-lethal air gun. Airsoft is effectively banned as these are not treated as real firearms by manufacturers and as such are regularly not marked with serial numbers, nor do they usually go through any intensive safety testing. Semi-automatic and automatic weapons are severely restricted or banned under current legislation as airsoft annoyingly has been included in the category of real weapons.
Airsoft guns are non-lethal and the safety concerns are often severely over stated. Claims of potential eye damage when fired at close range justifying the restrictions are just plain ridiculous. Airsoft is no more dangerous than riding a bike, if not less so, and the current restrictions disguise the Howard government’s true motives of effectively trying to regulate a cultural trend. Whether a good idea or not, this is dangerous territory and a severe violation of freedom of expression as the ban effectively regulates thought, seeing as public safety could not be seen as a valid justification. This ban could be seen on the same level as a ban on spray cans to discourage graffiti, or a ban on violent or sexual literature to discourage immorality. Regardless of whether the government “likes guns” or not, if simply owning an airsoft firearm does not violate the rights of anyone else in society, they should not have the power to ban them.
Stupid government! if only Australia was more like New Zealand. better race relations (Maori), fairer gun laws, better drivers licencing… the list goes on! and as for gun crimes and car deaths which politicians would use to argue against these laws in Australia, you just have to look at the statistics. less people in 100 die in NZ from cars or car crashes than in Australia, and gun crimes with AIRSOFT? that’s just ridiculous.
Agreed mate. New Zealand tends to focus more on individual liberty and classical negative rights, much like the UK, as opposed to Australia’s embracing of the ‘positive’ rights pushed today.
We will only see Australia get worse if Britain is anything to go by.
I wish you guys the best of luck. I can not imagine what it must be like to live in a country where Airsoft is banned.
I was in Australia (WA) only last month and found myself thinking that it would be a fantastic place to play the sport. That was through the eyes of a player that had never visited a sub-tropical area before.
My girlfriends sister has settled in Australia and she and her husband are moving to Queensland sometime this year.
If every thing goes well and you manage to make Airsoft legel in Australia then I would certainly think about bringing one of my events over to your country.
All the best,
Ian
Is this new law on airsoft guns only be in Queensland or the whole of Australia?
Just Queensland at the moment but I believe Airsoft Australia has made serious headway in NSW as well.
What about WA? dam government they put bb guns in the same category as shotguns. bloody idiotic scumbags in parliment they are..
I agree with John, I also live in Wa and the dam pariliment. But I have sent a letter to the elected member of Murdoch so… we will see what happens.
Congratz with the approval in Queensland, hope u guys can have the fun soon, but i want to know when airsoft Australia going to do something about NSW and other states?? i really want to get back into the sport..
What about vic?
I live in vic and i would run up and down my street going crazy if the became legal i really need them
I Live In Townsville Qld And I MIGHT Own A Few Airsofts
I Didnt Evan Know They Were Illegal Till Last Week
. . . Yes Im A Noob lol
But I Waz Just Wondering If These Laws Allowing Airsofts
Has Come In Yet & If So Do I Still Need A License To Own One
Cheers Guys & Happy Shooting =)
Hey Josh, I’m also from Townsville and I’m crazy about airsoft. Got MSN?
I live in QLD and im not sure when the laws are going to ba passed?
i really want to get into airsoft i love it, just not sure when i can buy 1.
anybody help me?
thanx.
Im airsoft crazy to but i think it`s december we will be alowed
I live in N.S.W and I just discovered Airsoft. I was sooooo happy I told all my friends about it. Then just last night I discovered it was banned (you need a gun lisence to own an Airsoft gun leagally) So everyone pray the government lets Australia enjoy airsoft!
mayn this sounds sick, wat about other places in aus?? i miiight alrdy own 1 and as strict as it seems i can see why they were made illegal, i think itl be way more controled than in say hk or america because its easy to see how things might get out of hand in a gunfree country with bogans and what not running around
This could help us as paintballers too, we are limited in what we are allowed due to replica laws, it limits us from some of hte stuff that milsim guys want to get their hands on.
Moved from Auckland, NZ to Melbourne, VIC 4 months ago and had to leave my precious full metal GBB Beretta at home :’( But if airsoft gets made legal in VIC I’ll be definitely importing it and hopefully I’ll be able to get my hands on some autos too.
The NZ airsoft community is VERY, repeat VERY, wary of the legal status in NZ and while they are grateful they take any sort of violation such as people wielding weapons in public or worse firing at civilians very seriously. In fact they openly condemn stupid acts so that the Joe Green (relevant cop) knows this is not what they are about.
This attitude would need to be adopted almost religiously in Aus to prevent a similar scenario. In Henderson, AUckland a few years back a guy running from cops in a car pulled a glock airsoft gun out and pointed at a cop. He was promptly shot dead. This is the kind of press Airsoft Australia has to avoid if the hard work and efforts of lobbyists finally pays off.
The govt needs to understand Airsoft as a sport is a healthy way for guys (and girls) to bond in an outdoors environment and encourages teamwork and concentration. Its also a legitimate collectors pursuit and tweaking and studying how the guns work can be very satisfying. Its nothing to do with being a gun-nut, I’m very anti real guns I’d hate to own a real gun or have gun laws relaxed in Aus.
My 2 cents from an ex-pat Kiwi Airsoft Player and Enthusiast.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?sh3jf432&1
Yeh, us aussies arnt dumb like americans, we wouldnt run around aiming guns at people, even if we’d did it would stop the fucken cops trying to book us for speeding lol, then they can actualy do some work
Hey guys,
just recently heard that the bill was being finalized in december and went totally balistic.
just wondering if it becomes legal to posses and use them, will we be able to import them. and if QLD gets airsoft and not WA can someone sell me a gun.
ty
airsoft FTW!
I am sick of australian laws! Australia takes away so much freedom by all of these crooked laws.
Airsoft Ban
Firework Ban
Laser Ban
Australia bans everything fun! All of these things are legal in most other countries.
Australia is a nanny country and is close to or maybe even worse than singapoore’s laws.
I wouldn’t put it past australia to ban bubble gum because it could pop in someones eye and damage there vision.
Laws like those that put Airsoft into real firearms catergory are simply made by politicians who don’t know and don’t care about the differences. There agenda is trying to fool the general public into thinking that the government is actually doing something useful!
Case in point. I live in the Northern Territory where the sitting labor government removed our open speed limit on our highways and reduced speed limit in built up areas in the name of road-safety. The NT road toll is now HIGHER than it has been before these so-called “safer” road laws.
I agree Australia is turning into nanny state. We need only look the the UK to see the future of this country. Honestly ask your average person what they think of CCTV cameras on street corners to prevent crime. I guarantee the answer will be something to the effect of, if you are not doing anything wrong, who cares? Then ask them how they would feel about a CCTV camera at home in their kitchen where alot of violence seems to occur. For some reason people value their privacy in their own home but not outside of it. It has been ingrained in us that the government is more than a collection of individuals but an all powerful supreme body that should define morality and provide safety and comfort for all of us. People don’t value privacy outside the home because they no longer believe that public spaces belong to them. They see wrongly the public as belonging to the government.
Ken, I agree that populist politicking is common but in the case of gun laws I disagree. John Howard knew exactly what he was doing when he included a ban on replicas in draft legislation for the states. The idea is to prevent the “gun culture”. It is literally an attempt at social engineering, it has nothing to do with how dangerous they are.
hey guys just wanted to say you are all right with your opinions. Our Government wants us to be fit n all but they ban all these sports that YES sound weird (guns n shooting, etc) BUT DONT FORGET we are like the worlds 3rd fattest country BY FAR from all other countries. Australia has turned into a fat arse LAW throwing place were the GVT slams us for being fat but it is THEM who stop us from having fun.
lets face it we all watch rambo and terminator n shit and love to “pretend” we are there, so its fair to say that these kids would love airsoft much more than chasing a bloody ball
come on (im not anti-soccer btw, just example)
I MOVED HERE for freedom but in the end im nothing but a pawn…and so are you….think about it.
i hope this get’s unbanned down here in tassie
Whats the point of only allowing it in one state, that would promote illegal weapons trafficking and who knoes what, hopefully it should force all the states to adopt the legislation
IF only Qld becomes legal, they might ban it again
It will be great to make it legal again, even if it is only in Queensland because then the other states will have to give in. Airsoft guns are so great i allready have 1 but am dieing to get more. I can’t wait till December. These guns are replicas only and they will do no harm. Kevin Rudd is a legend if he legalises them, No-one likes John Howard
I agree with Ultimate_Queenslander even though i don’t like QLD around state of origin time, but john howard made a bad desicion it just made be angry, these replicas do no-harm and as long as they have the orange cap then they should be legal. I only live over the border so i can drive to QLD buy the gun then drive back to NSW.Does anyone know where you will be able buy them??? (preferred around the Gold Coast/Brisbane area)
I completly disagree with Seb these are harmless guns that shoot little plastic balls, and besides we will never be like the u.k for startes we have resources such as coal and uranium that will keep our economic status high and we have a much better education system so our kids and smarter then to think “o lets shoot ourselves and see what happenes ay, and hen we khen go get a nice cup of tea”
Sign the petition and bring them back
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?sh3jf432&1
hi guys
i live in victoria nd im wondering would victoria get them in december or later ( or even at all)? coz rite now all i can do is play with balloon guns and homemade pneumatic air rifles.
lol
if it becomes legal would k-mart sell them or only gun shops?
What type of guns would be allowed?
aeg’s shotguns,pistols,sniper rifles, revolvers, (etc.)
thank you
mim,
i just wish that the feds would let us have our freedom
even if we might accidentally get someone in the eye with one of these it dosent matter.
the exact same thing happens with rocks and sticks.
and darts if your unucky
I do not see why Australia has a problem with Airsoft, we allow Paintball, so why can’t we have our sport back? Paintball hurts much more than Airsoft.
If airsoft is legalised in QLD, it will probably spread to other states, but if only QLD is legalised then people will traffic Airsoft guns to other stats.
Even if they start making Airsoft fields like they do Paintball, it will be a lot better.
And it is near impossible to hit somebody in the eye if they are using Z87 eye safety equipment, which means they can withstand a 1/4″ steel ball being shot at them.
The only problem the government really has with them is that people may mistake them as real guns at first, but that is what the orange tip is for, if thats not enough they could require the guns be painted a certain colour. But they could just make certain areas that Airsoft is permitted and you must carry them around in a bag while not in those areas.
Also Australia is turning into a “fat” country, with Airsoft it might get all the people sitting at home playing Counter-Strike or Battlefield 3 etc. off their bums and get them more athletic.
Thanks for reading 8]
hey Seb go die in a hole.That would make us all happy. Ur opinon stands alone only the police are on your side. Hey Seb is working for the nswpolice to try and convence us to not want them
I do not see why Australia has a problem with Airsoft, we allow Paintball, so why can’t we have our sport back? Paintball hurts much more than Airsoft.
If airsoft is legalised in QLD, it will probably spread to other states, but if only QLD is legalised then people will traffic Airsoft guns to other stats.
Even if they start making Airsoft fields like they do Paintball, it will be a lot better.
The only problem the government really has with them is that people may mistake them as real guns at first, but that is what the orange tip is for, if thats not enough they could require the guns be painted a certain colour. But they could just make certain areas that Airsoft is permitted and you must carry them around in a bag while not in those areas.
Also Australia is turning into a “fat” country, with Airsoft it might get all the people sitting at home playing Counter-Strike or Battlefield 3 etc. off their bums and get them more athletic.
Thanks for ur time
What the heck army dude? Did you read the article? Obviously I support legalising airsoft.
I live in brissy in qld and i am so pissed off that they got rid of it and then r goin to bring it back
they couled have *#*@(@! kept it shit
AIRSOFT IS THE BEST
hi all
i live in NSW and i found out about Airsoft online.
u that a risk playing it and if u get hurt suck ti up.
they should bring it back in all stats.
Man, i really hope airsoft becomes legal very soon. All the government has been doing the past yrsis banning anything the public can do for fun. Even recently lasers. I have a laser right now. I have used it once and im not game to go out and use it again because the feds will be at my door for the third time. Yes thats right I said the THIRD time. I do love paintball and would love a marker but airsoft is even better. At the moent I’m too young to play paintball and theres no paintball fields close so I’m into laser tag which is ok, but I’ll get sick of it. Pain is the fun of the modern world, can;t the stupid government understand that yet. They just say that all the ppl in the community have voted for these “weapons” to be illegal, If I were part of the government, I’d be adding that ally up again. Who agrees?
Conner I’m with u mate
Paintball hurts like hell and Laser tag is just no good.
Airsoft is the Shit thats what is made for re-Creating modern combat.
omffggg if bb guns become legal in Qld i will be soo happy and the first thing i would do would buy one:P. is there going to be a legal age for these and if soo how old? and would you need a license for them? thanks
from sammy_j_hall_69@hotmail.com
fvxb1ue36ah3zlpr
OK, so is airsoft going to be legal in QLD defenetly or are they still unsure? And btw i *%#!)&^ LOVE AIRSOFT ive been waiting for it for 5 GRULING years so they better not just let in a certain type of weapon (e.g. revolver only) that would suk ass whose with me.
I think it stinks that this fun,harmless recreational pursuit is banned. We have to many idiot politicians and a police force with nothing better to do except harass over-taxed citizens. Its time individual rights were put back on the national agenda in this country.
it better become legal…im sick of laser tag
anyone know if it will be legal in tas???
I hope this passes, ’cause if it does there should be little if anything preventing paintball to fit under the same category. While as a true PB’er i am forced to say BBing is sissy and generally lame
I think we need to unite to push bills like this through.
(PS i think tas is the only place where it is illegal to play PB, if that helps any).
I don’t mind regulation, cause trust me there are loads of kids who would mis-use PB and Airsoft, classifying it as a gun is too extreme. As a highly response-able 15 year old i find it is out of my means to get my own equipment, so i will wait until im 18 or this passes.
I think the biggest advantage to this passing is the freedom to get guns (no 30 day wait on PTA’s) and the reduction of paperwork allowing somthing like D-Day Oklahome (3k+ people re-enactment) to be realised here, cutting $3k off flying :(.
Basically bigger and better.