Gun-Formers (imitation weapons) laws and requirements for Australia

[griffin]

Just NSW (as mentioned on the Club homepage) or the whole country?

The Megatron Club was set up to satisfy NSW ownership laws, but might be useful in other Permit states if that satisfies their requirements of proving that you are an existing toy collector.

Do you need a replica gun license if you have a real gun license ( i would hope not)?

If you have a real gun license, you are already covered for replica ones... unless it is in a different weapons class and you are only licensed for Rifles.
But email the Weapons Branch in your state to verify.

AAs a Queenslander, hope PC can get it. And also hope someone can do some examples for the form B709 about mp36. Then can help us to fill and the permit if necessarily.

There is not much to fill out on the form, other than ticking the B709A box, describing the the toy completely (what it replicates and what it is called as a Transformers toy), and that you are a toy collector of a certain amount of years or toys. That's it.
I will have to post up an edited copy of my form... to show what is required on the form.

Is all this a non-issue if it has an orange plug in the barrel?

Nup, that doesn't apply to us.

I've got an imitation firearms license because I was told by customs to get one, even though I live in Qld, before ordering G1 and MP Megs. But I've also read this:
https://www.police.qld.gov.au/progra...s/replicas.htm

"For Category A, B, C and H non-firing replica weapons no weapons licence is required."
Any other Qlders want to clarify?

You don't need a license, but you do need a permit to import if you are buying from another country. If you are buying from an Australian person or business, you don't need any licenses or permits for toy guns in Queensland.

[Krayt]

There is not much to fill out on the form, other than ticking the B709A box, describing the the toy completely (what it replicatesand what it is called as a Transformers toy), and that you are a toy collector of a certain amount of years or toys. That's it.

Um guys.... I think something needs pointing out.

Mp-36 is NOT a replica firearm.

Mp-05 was an oversize replica of a Walther P-38. This is a fictional gun with no real world equivelent.

This is also supported by the "translated" magazine pages that went up the other day.

I've run this past my firearms officer contact (for my actual license) and other contacts (consulted for Victorian gunlaws) and all agree that this totally exclude MP-36 from the replica conditions.

[Krayt]

The other page

[Raider]

Um guys.... I think something needs pointing out.

Mp-36 is NOT a replica firearm.

Mp-05 was an oversize replica of a Walther P-38. This is a fictional gun with no real world equivelent.

This is also supported by the "translated" magazine pages that went up the other day.

I've run this past my firearms officer contact (for my actual license) and other contacts (consulted for Victorian gunlaws) and all agree that this totally exclude MP-36 from the replica conditions.

This might be the case in VIC but I am not so confident about NSW. In NSW it is not a replica firearm but an imitation firearm. Quoting the relevant Act:

(2) For the purposes of the application (as provided by this section) of this Act to imitation firearms:
(a) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a pistol is taken to be a pistol, and
(b) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a prohibited firearm is taken to be a prohibited firearm.
(3) In this section, imitation firearm means an object that, regardless of its colour, weight or composition or the presence or absence of any moveable parts, substantially duplicates in appearance a firearm but that is not a firearm.

It will be interesting to see how this is ultimately classified.

[aching878]

This might be the case in VIC but I am not so confident about NSW. In NSW it is not a replica firearm but an imitation firearm. Quoting the relevant Act:

(2) For the purposes of the application (as provided by this section) of this Act to imitation firearms:
(a) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a pistol is taken to be a pistol, and
(b) an imitation firearm that is an imitation of a prohibited firearm is taken to be a prohibited firearm.
(3) In this section, imitation firearm means an object that, regardless of its colour, weight or composition or the presence or absence of any moveable parts, substantially duplicates in appearance a firearm but that is not a firearm.

It will be interesting to see how this is ultimately classified.

yeah NSW would be diff as even props etc that resembled a firearms falls into the imitation category per point 3 above

even tho mp36 is not an exact replica of a real world pistol, at first glance by anyone they would say hey its a gun/pistol which pretty much guarantees its imitation status

[Ralph Wiggum]

Speaking for WA, I'm still going to check with Police Firearms, given oversize MP5 still needed a permit.

All the pleading that MP36 is a fictional gun will mean nothing if customs/police think otherwise. And really he is pretty much a P38.

[drifand]

Speaking for WA, I'm still going to check with Police Firearms, given oversize MP5 still needed a permit.

All the pleading that MP36 is a fictional gun will mean nothing if customs/police think otherwise. And really he is pretty much a P38.

Just apply the form and don't ask. When you ask they have to review it and tell you something different .

Works for maketoys and everything else. Everything runs well till you ask more just my two cents. You are complying to what is required that's enough. If every Tom and Jerry starts asking then they have to review the item.

[MayzaPrime]

Just talked to an absolute legend at the ACT Firearms registry. He is going to find the legislation and send me the details of what to do when ordering Megatron. I will post it once I have the details for all other ACT members to use as well.

Man it really heaps when the Officer on the other end of the call is a Transformer collector.

[GoktimusPrime]

llamatron: yes, WA is unrestricted.
http://megatron.net.au/MC_Masterpiece_MP05_WA.htm

Just like to point out that even fictitious replicas of fictitious guns that look "realistic", such as Original Trilogy Star Wars and Bladerunner guns. As stated on the Megatron Club site ("Breaking News" 5/1/2011).

My guess is that because a lay person with minimal to zero knowledge of science fiction weapons may mistake a realistic enough looking fictitious weapon for being a real gun.
e.g. Han Solo's blaster is actually based on the real life 9mm Mauser C96 pistol. While a person with sufficient knowledge of Han Solo's blaster and a Mauser C96 may be able to tell the difference, the average person probably wouldn't. Especially if it's produced in poor lighting and in a threatening situation where the person is in fear of their life and unlikely to pause and examine the pistol to see if it's real or not. AFAIK Deckard's gun isn't based on a real pistol, but it bears a similar appearance (shape, colour) as a real gun and so appears to be classified as requiring a permit in NSW.

Laws vary between states so you may need to check with your Police Ministry to be sure. But it seems that even approximations of real guns in NSW are prohibited and require a permit for importation and ownership.

Man it really heaps when the Officer on the other end of the call is a Transformer collector.

That is awesome. When I was applying for my permit nearly 9 years ago I had to repeatedly explain to people what Megatron was. And I also had to repeatedly explain to people, including police, that it's a prohibited item and that I was applying for a permit, because I had several people try to dismiss me saying that I didn't need it and I had to continually reassure them that I most certainly did.

[darockk]

Just talked to an absolute legend at the ACT Firearms registry. He is going to find the legislation and send me the details of what to do when ordering Megatron. I will post it once I have the details for all other ACT members to use as well.

Man it really heaps when the Officer on the other end of the call is a Transformer collector.

In the ACT is not possible to legally possess a prohibited weapon. This is the reason why i do not own any MP5 or G1 megatron.

Let's hope MP-36 will not be classed as a prohibited weapon