Reenact-SA

Members.

As some of you might be aware, the Committee of RSA has been in discussion with various groups such as the Firearms Legislative Advisory Group (FLAG), and various Government Ministers regarding proposed changes to Replica firearms laws.

Our position was that Replica firearms should not be included in any changes to firearms legislation, however, if changes were to be made, that Reenactment groups such as ourselves, be a legitimate reason for owning a Replica firearm.

The Government has been keeping things pretty quiet (and under their hat), but there has been an announcement today of their intentions. It is interesting to note, that they have specifically mentioned "theatrical use", which has come directly from the RSA committee's submissions to the Government. This is a good sign, that they are at least willing to give us a voice.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/01/2702244.htm

Although the details of how these changes are to be implimented are sketchy at the moment, I fear that they will have no realistic system of implimenting it. For instance, how can demanding that owners of a Replica firearms, complete the firearms course through Technical College (TAFE), be relevant to Replica's???? The whole course is aimed at weapons safety and humain hunting technique. How is this relevant to a Replica that can not discharge a projectile????

I'm also interested to see if there are any changes to deactivated weapons. It would be ironic if you had to have a license for a Replica K98 but not for a deactivated one.

I'm hoping that they will follow the rules of other states, where a Replica of any sort is covered by an extra code on a normal firearms licence.

Open for discussion of what you think.

Andy.
President RSA

This is something of concern for me being a non-firer and replica collector. I think we as a club need to register as both a gun club and a collectors club. This would make it easier for all involved to have the firearms real or replica on their person and in their collection. I am going to avoid getting an actual firearms license for as much as I can, I dont see why I should have to play by their stupid rules, just because some fools out there want to hold up shops and banks with replica Glocks. I tried joining MAPS but theyre a bunch of stuck up close minded elitists. If RSA was a gun club (as suggested by myself, Eugene and Dave Bartlett some time ago) we probably would have more clout than we will have.

I quote Charlton Heston:

THEY WILL HAVE TO PRY MY GUNS OUT OF MY COLD DEAD HANDS!!!

There is a document up on the SAPOL website now.
PDF viewer required.
http://www.sapolice.sa.gov.au/public/download.jsp?id=49041

As it reads - you will be required to be licensed.
Your imitation firearm will need to be registered in the category it represents.
We, as a club, will need to talk with the Registrar for purpose of use - theatrical.

It is not clear whether de-activated firearms fall under this umbrella or not.

Well, it looks like I'll be out of the reenacting game then. I am not getting a license. They can bite me.

Im just waiting for Rann to ban magazines and butter knives now...since he was trounced at dinner last night with a magazine and the guy nearly got him with a butter knife too....

stupid bloody draconian bleeding hearts gun laws.

Craig, that's not to say your MP-40 or K-98 cant be registered under someone elses name and then "loaned" to you during reenactments

Deacts are also interesting because, at least in the old version, are strictly not recognised as firearms...

Ive written to the firearms branch regarding my deac. I spoke with them on the phone and they told me there and then that deacs are "exempt" from the license legislation changes. However, they did tell me to write to them regardless as they didnt want to give me the "wrong information". All machine guns real or replica are considered "prohibited weapons" under the firearms laws. We basically have no leg to stand on at the end of the day, however, that being said, once the committee meets with the firearms people to discuss the "theatrical" side of things we might get an exemption.

It's crazy, something that used to be a machine gun is now ok to have unregistered or anything, while my resin thing that would break if you stepped on it, is now classed as the real deal. Hell, it might be cheaper and easier to take it to the barracks and get a deactivated certificate...

Not to worry though, i'm sure we will be looked after. We have plenty of evidence now to support our claim of being a reenacting group - public events especially

Regarding MG34's. They may fall under the "toy" clause as they have no moving parts that mimic the actual workings of the real thing. Being plactic helps a lot as well. We will see.

Andy

Yes, I will ask on friday about that plastic one in Victoria.

According to the legislation, if it looks like a gun it is a gun. Machineguns fall under the "prohibited" weapons catagory. (edited ny admin)

Brendon,

An update on what was said re the model kit MG34?

Andy

If it is classed as an imitation firearm, then it is certainly a prescribed firearm and impossible to register.

However the next set of critera declare it not to be.

"Not an imitation firearm:
• does NOT contain any working parts; or
• is NOT designed to fire a projectile AND none of
its working parts imitate the firing action of a
firearm or any mechanism involved in the
functioning of a firearm; or
• is declared by the Minister for Police not to be a
firearm."

The MG and P-38 (solid resin) meet the first two points. Of course the Denix and MGC replicas don't meet this.

An exemption in any case could be sought from the Minister.

Does anyone have a different interpretation?

Just an update.

I have passed on the details of the changes to the ALHF and CHS requesting anything which may support our position to the Minister.

The committee is following up on some correspondance to several ministers and attempting to organise a meeting with Firearms as well.

Andy