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Gel Blaster Guns were classed as a "projectile toy" by a Queensland magistrate back in 2017. Since then, they have become popular. But more recently, gel blasters are facing some headwinds.
As replicas, they look cool, but they only fire gel bullets that are primarily water. Unlike paintball guns that shoot paint pellets or airsoft guns that shoot BBs, Gel Blaster ammunition is low-impact.
People, however, can still be charged in Queensland with weapon offences if they use the toys in a public place or in a menacing manner. The Minister for Police and Minister for Corrective Services, the Hon Mark Ryan, has called for a review of the like-like toy guns after a spike in alleged criminal activity.
Gel blaster products are deemed toys in Queensland. The Magistrates' Court of Queensland ruled that Gel Ball Blasters are not firearms under the Customs Import Regulations of 1956.
Laws vary between the States and Territories. Gel blasters are prohibited in New South Wales and Victoria.
In other areas, the blasters fall into a grey area. And nowadays, some insurance providers require that gel blaster players be over 16 years old.
The NSW government is the most strict; not only do they classify Gel Basters as imitation firearms, but they also require people to get a $75 permit.
Apart from the registration of individual guns, an imitation firearm in NSW is treated as a firearm.
For example, it must be stored in a secure location such as a gun safe.
Recent media stories have been negative:
* A man from South Granville was jailed for four months after he posted videos to Facebook showing himself brandishing two replica guns, nunchucks, capsicum spray, and handcuffs, and shooting at cockroaches inside his house.
* Doctor Shaun Dai, an eye surgeon (Paediatric Ophthalmology) from the Queensland Children's Hospital in South Brisbane, has treated several children with potentially blinding injuries from Gel Blaster Guns. In an example featured on A Current Affair, a 4-year-old child was shot point-blank by his 7-year-old brother, causing a tear in the younger boy's cornea and blood pooling in his eye. The child is now left with a lifelong risk of developing glaucoma. (The video clip has been watched more than 149,000 times.)
* A Gel Blaster gun store opened in a Rockhampton shopping centre on a Monday in June, but was asked to leave by centre management by the Wednesday after a series of complaints from shoppers.
A petition on change.org asking people to support the unregulated status of Gel Blasters in Queensland has gathered 1,664 supporters (as of the end of July 2019).
You might be asking yourself what the difference is between a gel blaster and a Nerf. Or the difference between a gel blaster and laser tag. Or even the difference between a gel blaster and paintball or airsoft.
Basically, all enable gamers to play live-action combat missions.
Whereas Nerf guns shoot foam pellets, airsoft guns shoot BBs, paintball markers shoot paint pellets, and gel basters shoot gel balls. Laser Tag units, on the other hand, do not shoot any projectiles. In fact, Laser tag toys emit a harmless infrared beam, just like a TV remote.
Enthusiasts love the cosplay element of gel baster guns - they look like the real McCoy because they are, in fact, replicas. While these toy "water pistols" are great for hobbyists, people seeking commercial-grade live gaming equipment should consider a professional solution, such as equipment from Battlefield Sports.
Gel Blasters have trouble working in the rain. Laser taggers, such as the Cobra model, have a gasket around the seam. This gives it an IP rating of 65.
The laws around who can play with gel blasters have been changing in Australia.
In October 2020, South Australia amended the laws to prohibit people under 18 from using gel blasters. Adults must obtain a permit or surrender their weapons to the police. There's a 6-month moratorium period, which is due to finish in April 2021.
In Tasmania, there is a case before the courts involving a business using Nerf cases and gel blaster internals. It will be interesting to see how that case pans out.
In 2020, Queensland Police reported responding to 352 crimes involving gel blasters.
And 85 charges were laid (during the last 2 years).
According to the Brisbane Times, from 2018 to 2021, when the legal changes on gel blasters took effect, Queensland police charged more than 100 people for misusing gel blasters.
Designed to target criminals, the new Queensland laws mean gel blaster players must be registered members of a gel blaster sporting association or of a replica gun club.
Summing up, Gel Blasters are quite different to laser taggers.
While gel blaster guns are popular, they are now facing some challenging headwinds.
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