Gel blaster industry group launches legal bid with claims of $50m loss from SA ban

Adelaide’s last legal gel blaster dealer says times are tough as police reveal how many have been seized and an industry group launches a compensation bid.

A gel blasters industry group is investigating launching a class action against the state government and SA Police, claiming the introduction of “ineffective” licensing laws has caused economic losses of up to $50m.

Former and current Adelaide gel blaster business owners have told the Sunday Mail they will register in the class action once more detail is known.

The push for legal action by the Gel Blasters Association of Australia (GBAA) comes after it mounted a legal challenge earlier this year that failed to overturn the new laws.

Under South Australian regulations, introduced in October 2020, all gel blasters were reclassified as regulated imitation firearms requiring a licence to sell and operate.

Douglas So, from Safari Zoomer, is the only gel blaster specific licensed firearm dealer in Adelaide after the gel blasters were regulated by SAPOL. He says he's lost tens of thousands of dollars and would consider a class action for compensation under the right conditions. Picture: Keryn Stevens

New SA Police data reveals the regulatory impact of the new firearms laws one year on. The figures show more than 4500 gel blasters have been surrendered or seized by police.

It also shows 94 of the 115 incidents in which one or more gel blasters were seized by police in the past six months led to an arrest or report.

Acting Police Minister John Gardner said the laws were introduced to ensure the safety of South Australians and provided the right balance for responsible businesses and enthusiasts to continue using and selling gel blasters under a licence.

“Only recently, an alleged sickening incident occurred at Pinnaroo where a litter of puppies was allegedly shot with a gel blaster before video of the cowardly act was uploaded to social media,” he said.

“This is yet another clear example why regulation was needed and implemented.”

Some of the gel blaster firearms surrendered to SAPOL in the past year.

GBAA treasurer Chris Sinclair said the new rules had been “ineffective”, with an industry-estimated 300,000-plus gel blasters still in the community – though police estimates are much lower.

Mr Sinclair said the brunt of the law reform’s impact had been on the 50 SA businesses forced to close their doors since the changes were announced, affecting 350 employees.

Mr Sinclair said total lost revenue was up to $50m, including secondary and broader industries affected.

Douglas So in his Safari Zoomer gel blaster store in Salisbury South. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Douglas So, who is the only licensed firearm dealer in Adelaide specialising in gel blasters after the regulations came into effect, said business has been “tough”.

Mr So said he had $200,000 of stock that was proving more difficult to move, with an approximate sale of no more than 100 gel blasters to licensed holders in five months. This compared to sales of about 100 units a week prior to regulation, he said.

This was in addition to the Salisbury South business owner giving away $20,000-worth of children’s gel blasters to a Queensland colleague and losing $20,000 in stock after police would not issue him the required import permit.

Two weeks ago, Darren Collins closed his indoor gel blaster field games business in Salisbury South due to lost trade attributed to the legal reforms.

“The demand is gone,” he said. “People just aren’t coming out like they used to. Many think gel blasters are illegal – they’re not, they just need a licence to use.

“There are also those who have not bothered to get a licence or can’t due to mental health issues and previous convictions.”