The Toy Guns That Could Soon be Banned

Queensland authorities are considering banning Gelblaster toy guns, which look exactly like real assault rifles.

A Brisbane business operator is selling the toy rifles, which fire small gel balls.

gun

Normally replica firearms are restricted in Queensland but a Coopers Plains outlet has permits for selling them over the counter.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington described the toys as “very realistic.”

“I think Fair Trading should look into banning them,” she said.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said he’s “perplexed” as to how the toys are legal.

But others suggest a ban would be an over-regulation, despite the Gelblasters being illegal in Victoria.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said while a court ruling deemed the projectiles fired from the toys to be legal, the jury is still out on the guns themselves.

“If the weapon or toy in this case looks very similar to a real weapon then we can take action,” Commissioner Stewart said.

Share your comments below

19 Comments

- - Number One Mum said
  - 16 Jan 2019
    9:46 am
It’s pretty simple all toy guns that shoot anything but water out of them should 100% be banned straight away . Kids just don’t understand that they could loose an eye or blind there friend’s just playing what they think is a simple game some of these guns shoot things out of them really hard . Even some of the water guns shoot water out of them really hard and they should be banned as well .We don’t need to teach our young kids anything to do with guns . There are plenty of other toy’s for our kids too play with

- - mom215581 said
  - 05 Sep 2018
    8:02 am
Can understand the concern to a certain point.. but I think the bigger issue in the community is not banning the seriously violent online and video games…which encourages and trains players to be virtual mass murderers.. I find that much more disturbing.

- - mom68673 said
  - 03 Sep 2018
    11:14 pm
Yeah really dont think you toy gubs should be looking like the real thing. Either ban it or the company should be forced to change the style and in depth detail to the toy.

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 02 Sep 2018
    2:31 pm
I thought it was going to say nerf guns. Thankfully is not

- - curlytops said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    9:56 am
I think that the decision should be state wide not individual states having their own rules.

- - mom74005 said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    8:41 am
Yeah this is fair enough the toys should look like toys and not replicate the real thing

- - MuthaNita said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    8:38 am
It should be a safety issue for the manufacturer to change the appearance. Imagine if these were sold in the states, someone would be shot by an officer assuming it was real. I think the appearance should definitely be changed to something less realistic.
- mom93821 replied
  
  03 Sep 2018 , 7:06 am
  I was watching a program on TV and some of the ‘real’ guns for beginners look like these ones!
- - mom93821 said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    5:06 am
The appearance of real guns vs fake toy guns is unfamiliar to me. It would be interesting to know what the laws are all over Australia and also definitions.

- - Ellen said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    4:22 am
Think it would be wise to ban as a game could end in dangerous tragedies.

- - Blossom said
  - 01 Sep 2018
    3:20 am
I have seen some that in fact are large water pistols.

- - ashna9 said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    11:42 pm
If it is too close to the look of a real weapon then I can understand the ban.

- - mom265671 said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    11:34 pm
If they look real then I’m all for the ban

- - mom111059 said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    10:28 pm
If they look like the real deal then they should be banned.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    8:52 pm
These guns look so real with the colouring and design. If not allowed in one state should make it in all states and territories.

- - mom297125 said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    7:24 pm
Definitely agree that a ban is the rught decision.

- - BellaB said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    3:01 pm
A ban seems very sensible – these could lead to dangerous misunderstandings.

- - becstalou said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    2:29 pm
Definitely don’t want toy guns that could be mistaken for the real thing.

- - mom160421 said
  - 31 Aug 2018
    1:08 pm
Banning these guns sounds like a good idea to me.