Law changed on fake guns
Adelaide Advertiser, Page: 14. Friday, 2 October 2009
Replica firearms will be treated as the real thing under tough new laws introduced yesterday.
Imitation firearms, or copies of genuine guns, can now only be bought from licensed gun dealers - the same laws which apply to genuine guns - following changes to the Firearms Act 1977. The changes came into effect yesterday but they do not apply to toy guns.
Chief Inspector Jim Langmead, officer in charge of the Firearms Branch, said many imitation firearms could be converted into firing weapons. “With a modicum of metal skills you can convert them, however if you don’t know what you are doing these things can blow up, literally, in your hand,” Chief-Inspector Langmead said.
He said it was “virtually impossible” for most people to tell the difference between imitation and real firearms.
Penalties for non-compliance of the new laws include up to 15 years jail or a fine up to $75,000.
Retail figures show 187 imitation firearms were sold in 2007/08, increasing to 425 in 2008/09. Police recorded 159 incidents involving imitation firearms in 2008/09.
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