Gel blasters that look like real guns are now illegal

Divisional firearms officer Leading Senior Constable Chris Cummins said anyone possessing gel blasters could now face charges for carrying or using an imitation firearm.

“They look like real guns and that’s a concern for the community and for police,” he said.

“While they aren’t real firearms, they look very similar to real pistols and assault rifles, which can scare people and increase police response.”

Ldg Sen Constable Cummins said another concern about gel blasters was their use in committing crimes.

“They aren’t illegal in every state, so people are buying them interstate or on the internet,” he said.

“With them looking so similar to real firearms, there is a high probability of them being used to commit crime.

“That’s a concern for the public and concern for police, which is why the law has been changed.”

Anyone with illegal gel blasters that look like real guns can hand them in as part of an Australia-wide gun amnesty under way.

While regular guns are to be handed to firearms dealers under the gun amnesty, gel blasters should instead be handed in to police.

Anyone who wants to hand in gel blasters should call their local police station first and tell police they want to hand them in.

If people take them to the police station, they should leave them in the car and go into the station first, rather than bringing the gel blasters straight in.

Anyone with a gel blaster that looks like a real gun could be charged with possessing, carrying or using an imitation firearm and the maximum penalty was a $43,617 fine or up to two years in prison for a first offence.

If a person found with a gel blaster is prohibited from having a firearm, they face up to 10 years in prison or a $218,088 fine.