I recieved this as a PM from forum member FJAWAY, Darryl, who lives in Adelaide. The message tells of disturbing news, making replicas completely illegal in the State.
I'm unclear if this total ban applies to the State or Australia as a whole... I'm sure Darryl would be grateful for any advice or help we could offer.
Thanks,
Cerwyn

Hi Cerwyn.

My name is Darryl and I have been a member for a while now on your forum.For me it all started about 3 years ago now when I was able to purchase a MGC mp40 from a guy I met at a wedding . We were introduced as having general interest in all things WW2. His name was Andy and he told me that he was involved in WW2 reenacting with an interstate club ( I by the way live in Adelaide ,South Australia)and he owned a replica mp40.

I then got very excited ! I had wanted one of them since I was 8 years old but could never afford it, or in later years because they stoppped importing ,just finding one. I then proceeded to say to Andy , if you ever want to sell it I'll take it !

To cut a long and boring story short . I purchased that mp40 from Andy and since then we with a few other like minded people have manged to start and run our own WW2 based reenactment club here in South Australia, Reenact SA . We put on our first private event this yearand we have now a membership of around 30 members .

Our main impression is Afrika, due to the fact that the Australians fought there with the British , Americans , Germans and Italians .But we also do Continental Europe and Russsian Front. We are lucky here because we have every landscape available to do these impressions quite accurately, if you don't mind the occasional gum tree.

Recently our membership has increased due to the fact that we have now WW2 vehicle clubs involved and we have been attending a number of public events over the last year that had a great response to from the general public.
This October the 17th and 18th was to be the pinnacle of our achievement as we are to part of the Jamestown Airshow here in S.A.
A huge battle senario is planned including dogfights, tank battle ,bunker and v1 roket site battle with a full pyrotecnique show. Great for the State and great for us !

The problem is that our State Government in their wisdom have just 2 days ago put out a blanket ban on all replica firearms rendering them illeagal overnight . We have an amnesty until January where as we must hand in these so called "weapons " to the police to be destroyed forever , without any monetary remuneration ? WTF !

We as a club knew ther were changes to replica firearm laws on the way , but we had no idea of how bad. We had put a submission into a committy reviewing these laws but obviously to no avail.

What does this have to do with me , you may ask ?

I was wondering if you could send me an accurate list of the type of WW2 modelguns available out there eg. types , brands , models that we could use in reenacting ? When we have an accuate list we intend to have a meeting with the appropriate authorities and put forward a proposal for us as Reenact SA to get some sort of exemption from these stupid laws and keep the mg's we already own and purchase new ones in the future.

All I require from you is a list, nothing else. Your name Cerwyn will not be mentioned in any way ,nor the forum, unless you wish.

The government here is worried that replicas can be converted into live firers and as we know modelguns can't and you would be an idiot if you tried.

We as a club have many members who use model guns and as you would know , it is impossible to accuratley reenact WW2 battles without light and heavy machineguns.

We also have a forum if you are interested http://reenactsa.freeforums.org/index.php , have a look.

I look forward to your reply .

Darryl

ps .You may post this on your forum if you wish , I'll leave it up to you .

Whoa, this is as bad as UK VCRA, at least before reenactors and airsoft groups managed to get exemptions.

I found an article about this new law:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/01/2702244.htm

Quote:

Authorities are concerned that imitations can be converted to fire bullets, and that they are often used in robberies and other crimes.

This is so typical for governements acting "on our behalf" to make world safer... they are "concerned".

Quote:

"We've seen situations in recent times where basically armed robbers have used imitation firearms and drawn them against bank staff and police, and that is why police and our community will treat them exactly as real firearms," he said. "How does a police officer tell when confronted with someone with an imitation firearm pointing at a police officers head?

This is simple - treat them as firearms if person is stupid enough to confront Police with them! Even here if Police or other force appears near an airsoft event (although they are usually notified in advance to avoid issues), every player knows they should immediately put down any replica and act carefully. I can only imagine that any person with some oil in their head would act wisely. Ban will not help - outlaws still manage to make/get replicas and real weapons without problems.

Even better quote - Premier claims that replicas are "dangerous weapons":

Quote:

"Our view is, the law's view is, they should be treated exactly as what they are, which is a dangerous weapon."

It seems that all replicas will be treated same as real weapons and require real firearms permission, plus registration of replica, and safe storage (sic!), just like real firearms :-/

Quote:

Police Minister Michael Wright says the changes will affect almost everyone. "They will all be included, including collectors items, including items that might be used for theatrical productions," he said.

Official SA Police information is here (PDF download)
http://www.sapolice.sa.gov.au/public/download.jsp?id=49041


Such news make me sad :-/

(edit: spelling and minor corrections)

Banning is one thing but to destroy them without any monetary refund is outrageous

8ace

It does seem a bit harsh to the decent law abiding citizens that currently own replicas is S.A.

at least our Government took a slightly more intelligent and fair route ( never ever thought I would think that )

I think the Japanese by and large are more responsible and disciplined people than us unruly heathens so I can see why there isnt an issue with guns over there.


The figures they quoted ( like 159 offences in 1 year ) doesn`t seem like an epidemic to me ...

DOC

Replica guns = promoting Osama bin Laden, according to South Australia officials:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25014752-5006301,00.html

Quote:

February 2009 ... replica AK-47 yesterday was for sale ... Gun Control Australia president John Crook told The Advertiser yesterday selling such replicas put out a "shocking message". "Weapons such as this, which is essentially what it is, create fear and apprehension in the community and the police should intervene and confiscate the gun immediately," he said. ... A worker at the pawnbroker, named Rick, said only people with a firearms collector licence could buy the replica AK-47. "The police are in here twice a day checking our sales records and they make us aware of the potential criminal elements," he said. "But these things don't kill – and it's probably easier for people to get a real gun than a replica." ... Police Minister Michael Wright said the State Government was having a "close look" at existing firearms legislation.

As far as I can say, replica ban is thanks to pressure groups like "Gun Control Australia" or "National Coalition for Gun Control", who write on their webpages (this is from http://www.guncontrol.org.au/):

Quote:

The way our Prime Minister happily uses the gun extremist Sporting Shooters Association (SSAA) shooting facilities is worrying. ... On guns, can the Australian public trust the Australian Institute of Criminology? We say, no ... Private gun ownership for the most part is a curse to Australian society. ... Australian Shooters - Just Pawns in the Gun Sales Game?

I am dumbfounded by what I have just read.
I know similar things to this happened in some of the other states of Australia, like NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, and after talking to some guys at the recent military fair, all things seemed to be all OK in WA.
It makes me wonder what might be next.

It's something I will have to find out.

I think I've told all you guys before that when talking about fxxking stupid gun laws (for the developed world I might add) nowhere can beat Australia...

Regarding the "AK47-Bin-Laden" article - when Saddam Hussein was captured he held a Glock - so when'll Glock be branded as the "Gun for Saddam"...

Reading the SA Police documents and it seems registration is the only way to go so the guns can be confiscated at a later date (when the 2nd wave of gun control sweeps through and this time the guns have nowhere to hide)...but I wonder how many people will turn their guns in when it is dead clear that there won't be any buyback for this time...

Unity might be the way to go...but there might be a risk that the rest of the unaffected states (namely WA/QLD) will be dragged along...at the end of the day Reenactors only forms an extremely minor group in the Australian society...

I cannot recalled any incident in South Australia that strikes this... ...simply out of the blue...

I've put a list together of all the WW2 era weapons replicated as either cap firing, or Dummy Modelguns by Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturers (past and present)

I'm no expert so I'm certain my list will not be comprehensive. There WILL be models I've missed and forgotten about.
As Darryl needs a list of non-lethal, non modifiable models to present to the Authorities, could I ask you, our more knowledgable members for some help please

I'll post the list up here. Any and All additions and contributions will be gratefully recieved.

Thanks very much







MGC (Model Gun Corporation Japan)



MGC Thompson M1921 Military version … Early and Late models

MGC Thompson M1921 Law Enforcement “Chicago” version Early and Late models

MGC M1 Carbine

MGC M2 Carbine

MGC Colt M1911 Pistol … Several Variants of this model

MGC Colt .32 Semi Auto Pistol

MGC STEN MkIII

MGC ’68 MP40

MGC Luger P08

MGC Luger P08 Lange Lauf 8” Artillery

MGC Luger P08 CARBINE

MGC M31 Pump Action Shotgun

MGC M3 “Grease Gun”

MGC Mauser M1916 9mm Cal (Broomhandle variant)



HUDSON Thompson M1A1

HUDSON M1 Garand Rifle

HUDSON M1 Garand Tanker Rifle

HUDSON M1 Garand US Navy Cortege Model

HUDSON M3A1 “Grease Gun”

HUDSON STEN MkII

HUDSON STEN MkII with Silencer

HUDSON PPSh41

HUDSON Tokarev TT33

HUDSON Mauser M712 Carbine

HUDSON M1930 (Broomhandle variant)

HUDSON Mauser C96 Carbine

HUDSON Nambu N3

HUDSON Nambu Type 14



MARUSHIN Browning Hi-Power … Several variants of this model

MARUSHIN Browning M1910

MARUSHIN Enfield No2 Mk1 Revolver

MARUSHIN MP40

MARUSHIN MP1

MARUSHIN Mauser M712 (Several Variants)

MARUSHIN Luger P08

MARUSHIN Luger P08 NAVAL

MARUSHIN Luger P08 ARTILLERY

MARUSHIN Luger P08 PARABELLUM

MARUSHIN Luger P08 Hermann Goring Presentation Model

MARUSHIN Walther P38 Commercial

MARUSHIN Walther P38 Military

MARUSHIN Walther P38 Short

MARUSHIN Walther PPK

MARUSHIN Walther PPK/S

MARUSHIN Walther PP Sport

MARUSHIN Mauser K98

MARUSHIN M1 Carbine

MARUSHIN Nambu “Baby Nambu”

MARUSHIN Colt 1911 (Several Variants)



CAW Springfield M1903 A3 Rifle

CAW Bergmann MP18

CAW Colt 1911

CAW/Tanaka Mauser Gew98b

CAW/Tanaka Type 100 SMG



CMC M1 Carbine

CMC M2 Carbine

CMC M1A1 Carbine Paratrooper Folding Stock

CMC Mauser K98

CMC STEN MkII

CMC Thompson M1

CMC Thompson M1A1

CMC Colt M1911



TANAKA WORKS M1897 Trenchgun

TANAKA WORKS MP40

TANAKA WORKS M1 Carbine

TANAKA WORKS Luger P08 6” Naval

TANAKA WORKS Arisaka Type 38 Rifle

TANAKA WORKS Type 44 Carbine

TANAKA WORKS Type 99 Rifle

TANAKA WORKS Type 100 SMG

TANAKA WORKS Arisaka Type 2 Paratrooper Rifle

TANAKA Thompson M1



SHOEI MP44

SHOEI Mkb42

SHOEI G43

SHOEI MG42

SHOEI FG42 Type 1

SHOEI FG42 Type 2

SHOEI MP40 (Just announced)



TRC MP40



WaShan (Taiwan) COLT M1911

WaShan (Taiwan) Beretta M1934



Y.T. Corporation (Taiwan) Tokarev TT33

Y.T.Corporation (Taiwan) Beretta M1934

Y.T. Corporation (Taiwan) Walther PPK



NAKATA MP40



KOKUSAI S&W M10 .38 Revolver

KOKUSAI Browning M1910



LS STEN MkII

LS Luger P08

LS Colt .45 M1911 (Several Variants)

LS Walther P38

LS Thompson M1921

LS Nambu



HOBBY FIX Colt M1911



SUZUKI Walther PPK



MALUGO Walther PPK



WESTERN ARMS Walther PPK/S

WESTERN ARMS Beretta M1934

I have been a little concerned about these new laws, and especially what might happen in WA.
After talking with guys a few weeks ago at the military fair here, and they reckoned we were still OK to have replica guns, I flicked an email over to one of the local members of the Arms and Armour club and asked him what he knew.
His basic words were ".......... but as far as we know the police here are not interested .......They say that replicas are not a major problem in this state."

I hope he is right!

Hi everyone , just to give you all an update as to whats been happening here . Reenact SA commitee had a meeting with (SAPOL) South Australian police ministers today and put forward our problems with these new laws and as we were informed at this point the only replicas they are intersted in taking away are the one made in Eastern Europe (handguns ) that they claim can be converted into live firers.

They are not interesed in any blowback models ,(cap firing or other ),dummy replicas ,deact's and gas firers .

They also have said that gun licences will not be needed to own or operate these replicas .Also being in a reenctment club is a legitimate reason to own replicas .

Whooo hooooo ! Finally some sense from the madness !

What our govenment of now wants might be a different story , but it all looks good for us at this point in time .

Thanks to all for your words of support and thanks again to Cerwyn for putting together the list of modelguns ,some of which we used as a reference when we made our submission to SAPOL .

I'll keep you posted on any changes in the future

Fantastic news mate

You must be absolutely over the moon with this news Common sense prevails at last

I'm happy that that list I managed to put together proved useful, thanks for letting me know mate.

You must all be extremely relieved after these developments, really good news

Great news!
At least the authorities finally listen to the people who vote them in.