'Air soft', 'soft air', 'light sports pistols' or other similar devices are described as guns that are accurate replicas of real firearms that fire, using gas, spring or electricity (or a combination) ceramic, metallic or plastic pellets.

These 'toys' come in rifle, hand-gun and sub-machine gun configurations.

Some 'air soft' or similar type firearms have now been regulated by the Registrar of Firearms by placing the following in the Government Gazette pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Firearms Act l977:

Pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Firearms Act l977, I, Malcolm Arthur Hyde, Registrar of Firearms, hereby declare that the toy firearms known as 'air soft', 'soft air', 'light sports pistols' or other similar toys that have a muzzle velocity of 180 feet per second or greater, one metre from the muzzle, are firearms for the purposes of Section 5 (1) of the Firearms Act 1977.

This means that these toys are now firearms and are subject to all the conditions of the Firearms Act 1977, including licensing and registration.

Anyone in possession of a 'soft air' or similar type firearm is able to surrender it to their local police station.

No action will be taken against persons who voluntarily surrender the firearms. Anyone found in possession of an 'air soft' type firearm in conjunction with the commission of an offence will have action taken against them.

Further information

Further information about 'air soft' firearms can be obtained from:

Firearms Branch

Phone: (08) 7322 3346

Fax: (08) 7322 4182

e-mail: sapol.firearmsbranch@police.sa.gov.au