Mannings Sports has been selling slingshots as “bait casters”
One of the oldest shops in Gosford has been caught out selling prohibited slingshots by calling them “bait casters”.
Central Coast
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Mannings Sports in the main street of Gosford has been selling illegal slingshots under the guise of “bait casters”.
The family-owned business, one of the oldest in Gosford, was raided by officers on Tuesday after the Express Advocate was able to purchase a metal “Y” shaped frame and a Marksman brand rubber replacement kit clearly marked “Slingshot Hyper-Velocity Band”.
Brisbane Water Chief Inspector Steve Laksa confirmed yesterday “police are investigating” and that the owners of the shop “were assisting police” with their inquiries.
“The information we received was accurate,” he said.
A slingshot is Schedule 1 prohibited weapon under the NSW Firearms Registry.
When contacted by this newspaper a spokeswoman for Mannings Sports denied the allegations. “Mate I’ve been working here for seven years, we have not been selling illegal slingshots,” she said.
When it was put to her the Express Advocate purchased one on Friday she said “I’m not having this conversation over the phone” and hung up.
It comes after a magistrate rejected the “bait caster” found in the boot of a man’s car was “for casting bait beyond the reeds” while fishing.
Mark James Murray, 40, of Wyoming, faced Gosford Local Court on Friday after spending the night in the cells.
His Legal Aid solicitor said the man was with his girlfriend, who was seated at the back of the court, when they were pulled over on their way to Gosford Wharf to go fishing the night before.
The court heard Murray was on a Firearm Prohibition Order so police searched his car and found what officers alleged was a slingshot.
He was charged with using a weapon contrary to a prohibition order and possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
His solicitor pleaded guilty to both offences but told the court Murray had bought the “bait caster” at Mannings Sports in Gosford.
Magistrate Andrew George asked what it was for, to which Murray responded from the dock “for casting bait out past the reeds”.
“How much did you pay for it?” the magistrate asked. Murray replied “$39”.
“You come to Gosford and you learn new things every time,” Mr George said of it being called a bait caster before fining Murray $500 for possessing the weapon.
The store legally sells firearms, compound bows and other hunting equipment.
OVER THE COUNTER NO QUESTIONS ASKED
I bought a prohibited weapon without a permit over the counter of a prominent sports store just a few hundred metres from Gosford Police Station — and I reckon I overpaid.
I couldn’t see any “bait casters” in the fishing section so when a helpful staff member came over I asked for one.
She disappeared out the back for a moment and came back with the frame and a box clearly labelled “Slingshot Hyper-Velocity Band”.
“Does the bait need to be frozen?” I asked.
She looked at me like I had two heads until I explained thawed bait would probably disintegrate as soon as I fired the “bait caster”.
“Yes, use frozen bait,” she said.
“I’ve also got steel and rubber balls if you want?”
It was my turn to look puzzled, after all what would I need those for when fishing?
She rang up the sale and I paid $60 — too much, given I heard in court one bloke paid $39 for his.
On the receipt it lists the item as a “metal frame”.
There’s no mention of “slingshot” let alone “bait caster”.