Gel blaster seizures and arrests continue, as SA police issue stern warning against prohibited ownership

Gel blaster seizures and surrenders continue to rise in South Australia, as a local business owner says he is struggling to legally sell the firearms to those with licences.

Police have issued a stern warning to gel blaster owners, as hundreds of illegal firearms continue to be seized and close to 100 people have been arrested or reported.

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

Latest SA Police data shows that since the specific gel blaster amnesty ended on April 7 last year, a further 564 gel blasters were lawfully surrendered under the Firearms General Amnesty.

But since July last year, 286 illegal gel blasters were seized, leading to 97 people being arrested or reported.

The latest weapons find came after seven gel blasters were seized and a man was reported at Devon Park on Tuesday.

Gel blasters seized at Devon Park on Tuesday, February 9. Picture: SA Police

Gel blasters can often be indistinguishable to rifles. Picture: SA Police

Officers searched the home about 4.45pm, and found the firearms that led to a man from the address, 23, being reported for possession of unregistered firearms and summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

From October 2020 to this month, the data showed a total of 4732 gel blasters were surrendered or seized.

Detective Superintendent Billy Thompson, Officer in Charge of Firearms Branch, said those who still own gel blasters should surrender them before it is too late.

“Don’t wait until the police come to you because it will be too late,” he said.

“Anyone convicted of possessing an unregistered firearm can be fined $10,000 to $35,000 and can face imprisonment of two-to-seven years.”

Owner of Safari Zoomer, Douglas So, who was the only licensed firearm dealer in Adelaide specialising in gel blasters after the regulations came into effect, said he was still struggling to offload thousands of dollars of stock.

Douglas So from Safari Zoomer is the only gel blaster specific licensed firearm dealer in Adelaide. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“We still have lots of old stock from before the regulations changed,” he said, remarking that some models of gel blasters cannot be sold under new regulations, even to those with a firearms licence.

Mr So said strict regulations mean that the gel blaster market for licence holders was restricted.

“The big problem is they can’t use it in a private area … in their backyard or something,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Thompson said those who have legitimate reason for owning gel blasters should apply for a firearms licence.

“People who wish to own a firearm including a gel blaster firearm need to do the right thing and apply for a firearms licence and a permit to acquire the firearm,” he said.

South Australia has 23,142 people who are approved to hold a Category A Firearms Licence and there are 95 Firearms Dealers licensed to sell Category A weapons, including gel blasters.

Emergency Services Minister Vincent Tarzia praised those abiding by the laws, but shunned those using them illegally.

“Responsible gel blaster firearms owners have been diligent in registering their firearms in response to law changes and we thank them for their co-operation,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a rogue part of the community continues to use unregistered gel blaster firearms for crime and other dangerous acts.”

The Advertiser revealed in October that about 300,000 gel blasters were estimated to still be in the community, according to the Gel Blasters Association Australia.

Around the same time, the GBAA was investigating launching a class action against the state government and SA Police, claiming the laws were “ineffective” and would cause economic loss of up to $50m.