The best thing to do is whether airsoft guns are legal in Australia or not. And that`s the purpose of this blog. Below you will find useful information on everything related to legal (or illegal) airsoft weapons in Australia. Aside from paintball, the next thing Australians can do to play airsoft without going overseas is played with similar replicas called yellow trucks. These work in the same way as airsoft markers, but instead of shooting plastic BBs, they shoot small balls of water gel that explode on impact. They are legal in QLD and SA, but prohibited in NSW and VIC due to the same laws of appearance that apply to airsoft markers. I contacted gun control advocacy group Gun Control Australia to find out their position on airsoft, but I didn`t get an answer. Now there is an amendment to the current regulations that came into effect in 2013 for airsoft and paintball weapons, which are non-lethal weapons. Gel blasters are usually battery-powered spring-loaded plastic guns. When the trigger is depressed, its spring hammer hits the valve in the middle of the “grenade base,” which releases the gas stored in the cartridge through its cap holes. This then leads and sprays gels on a targeted target. A yellow truck can typically fire soft gel projectiles up to about 250 feet per second.
It is similar to an automatic airsoft electric gun (AEG) or a gas return airsoft, but unlike airsoft guns, the gel blaster gun has an uneven orb shape and its lighter weight and larger projectile size result in a lower muzzle velocity. This makes them probably the safest among other types of airsoft and BB weapons. When it comes to why people prefer airsoft to paintball, most of them will give you a few similar answers. “Airsoft is cheaper,” said Cal, co-founder of OZ1. To give some context to this, Mildenhall says, “Airsoft costs half [of what paintball usually costs] or less for a full day of fun and exercise.” In many states, he says, it`s not abnormal to spend more than $100 to play paintball for a single day. Brazilian here. I buy a lot of things from Aliexpress because everything else here is expensive. A lot of soft sutff gel appeared on the website and I learned about it. A bit lame compared to airsoft, but much better than nothing!! While these are just some of the reasons for the airsoft ban, many airsoft enthusiasts are trying to change this law in Australia. They believe that airsoft weapons are no different from paintball weapons and should be treated as such.
Due to the repression of the authorities and the negative social feelings of various moral entrepreneurs, airsoft has indeed been banned from the public eye, and domestic manufacturers and importers have practically disappeared. Despite all the negativity against sport, many people (even some police officers) still take risks to buy airsoft replicas (often bought in Hong Kong and then secretly brought back to the mainland via Shenzhen). [20] To avoid online government tracking, various forums in the underground airsoft community often refer to battery-powered automatic airsoft weapons frequently seen as “electric dogs” (Chinese: 电狗; pinyin: Diàn Gǒu, plays a joking quasi-homophone on the English word “gun”) or “farts” (Chinese: 宠物; pinyin: Chǒng Wù). [23] MilSim`s alternative activities with gelball shooters (similar to Maya`s Xploderz) or even foam dart shooters (similar to Hasbro`s Nerf Blaster) as a replacement have also become increasingly popular. Airsoft weapons under 0.5 joules are considered toy weapons and can be used by anyone over the age of 14. Some stores still require a parent or guardian to be present and give permission when buying an airsoft <0.5 joule gun, but most stores sell these toy guns to people over the age of 14. In addition, they are not allowed to be worn in public, as they can be authentic weapons. If the initial energy is between 0.5 and 7.5 joules, airsoft weapons are no longer considered toy weapons. In this case, they are treated as air guns, the minimum age for the purchase and / or use of an airsoft weapon is 18 years. These weapons require special marking, the so-called "F in a pentagon" and do not need to be able to fire entirely automatically, otherwise they are illegal to possess. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, the minimum age to purchase an airsoft weapon is 18.
Children under this age can still use airsoft weapons, but only if they are supervised by someone over the age of 18. [Citation needed] Airsoft weapons are mentioned as excluded in the Danish “Våbenlov” (arms control legislation). Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, surrender or possess airsoft weapons. They can be used in police-approved locations with a permit at the age of 16. A firearms licence is not required. All airsoft weapons must be carried hidden in a bag, trunk, etc. The law stipulates that the use of night vision (infrared) or laser aiming devices for military purposes is totally limited to members of the military and affiliated entities, even if the aiming device is used on a firearm of the lower restriction category (for example, an airsoft pistol). However, the law in no way restricts the use of aiming devices that are not intended for military purposes.
Josh is also an administrator of the Airsoft NSW Facebook page, which keeps fans in the state informed of changes and updates regarding the local sport. Along with a host of others, he has been championing Australian airsoft for about a decade. Importing airsoft weapons (officially referred to as toy models by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection), regardless of their legal status by state, requires an Australian Customs B709 Importation of Firearms Police Confirmation and Certification Form. [2] These forms may be requested from the appropriate state police department, but some states may require operators to have a valid license for the class of firearms they wish to import before the forms are issued, although possession of airsoft is generally not considered a valid reason to obtain a firearms license. Given these bans on airsoft weapons, Gel Ball Blasters are legal in some states and territories of Australia. Spring-loaded airsoft guns require you to manually re-energize the piston to compress the spring. This allows the cap that locks the piston in place when the trigger is pulled, which causes the gun to be fired. The next air is slow and this type of weapon is usually used as an airsoft sniper rifle. Soft air guns are usually used in airsoft sports. They fire non-metallic spherical projectiles, commonly known as BB, which are made of plastic or biodegradable resin. Pellets have a significantly lower penetration and braking force than usual air rifles and are considered safe in competitive sports and for recreational purposes with appropriate protective equipment.
Possession, acquisition or delivery of an unregistered BB pistol, gel gun or airsoft weapon will be punishable by up to 5 years` imprisonment. If the weapon is considered a pistol, the maximum penalty is 14 years in prison. These violations can also result in a fine of $5,500. A defense against this is if you didn`t know it, and you couldn`t reasonably be expected to know that the guns weren`t registered (if you weren`t the owner of them at the time). In other words, the sport itself is not illegal, but the possession and import of airsoft markers is. Airsoft defense is based on whether a person is a skirmisher or not. One of the measures taken by retailers has been the creation of a centralised database that is registered and maintained. This system is managed by the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association or UKARA.
UKARA shares the database of registered skirmishes with member retailers to verify whether the buyer is authorized to purchase a RIF as part of the VCRA skirmish defense. To be eligible for the UKARA database, a person must perform a skirmish three or more times over a period of at least 56 days and usually at one location. The Airsoft site where they register must have civil liability insurance. On 1 January 2013, new Dutch airsoft laws entered into force. Airsoft devices are air, gas or spring weapons with a maximum firing energy of 3.5 joules and almost entirely resemble real firearms. Those who own a replica of airsoft or want to participate in a battle must be registered with a certified airsoft organization. As of May 2016, only NABV, the Dutch Airsoft Sports Federation, was registered. Participation in a battle for non-members is allowed up to six times a year, but the Dutch Airsoft Sports Federation must receive certain details about the player, this usually happens when you rent on an airsoft website.