Paintball in WA

[l3iohazard]

i do not have a paintball gun and i was wondering if me and my friend can buy a gun and use it at my house becuase i have a big property. i was wondering if this is legal?

[Pompous Frog]

No, this is not legal. The laws in our state are against paintball but look to be reformed early this year. Right now it is ilegal to own a paintball marker in WA. However if you do it is advised that you do not use it anywhere except at a paintball field.
If you have more detailed questions on specifics and would like more detailed and specific answers just post them here and we'll all do our best to answer what we can.

[l3iohazard]

so this might be legal later on in the year?

[Pompous Frog]

The laws were being looked at by the state government. Then they whent on holiday. So bassicaly when parliament comes back and after they have debated the issue we will get our answer. This may mean mid Feburary or it may mean later. And we really don't know what the changes will consist of.
So just wait and see, and in the meentime go out and play some ball at your local field.

[l3iohazard]

what about tournaments, can u own a marker for them? how old do u have to be to go in tournaments?

[Bazza]

what about tournaments, can u own a marker for them? how old do u have to be to go in tournaments?


Simply put Bio, no you cant own a marker here legally fullstop (YET!!!)...If you and your mate are really keen then you should just do what Frog said and sit tight and play at the local fields...Also remember prices will be effected on the markers when they become legal :bigparty:

[paolo]

sorry guys I beg to differ.

To be a firearm in WA a paintball marker must be a weapon. (please check the definition) since it is a marking device this is not the case.

Further the definition of ammunition for a firearm does not fit as we use a frangible product designed not to injure but to leave a bright coloured splotch on a target.

The Paintball marker falls outside the definition of a firearm and is not subject to any more restrictions than a cricket bat.

The magistrate in Jason Anderson's court case last March agreed with this position and he was aquitted of posession counts of 45 paintball markers. They were then handed back to him over the counter by WA firearms branch.

Subsequent laws being introduced by state parliament might change this

[Pompous Frog]

Yeah. I was just under the impression that nothing was really changed in the laws. Before the case markers were classified as firearms and I thought nothing official had happend after the case. So officialy aren't they still classified as firearms?
Yet it is the laws, and they give me a headache. My personal opinion would say that you do not go using your marker anywhere except a field. And that is my opinion, because I do not know what the laws truely are concerning this, because it is very shifty and shitty here.
So my opinion to biohazard is to just wait until what ever official changes come into and then see how things go.

However you are most welcome to listen to other people's opinion especial's Paul's whom I have a great deal of respect for.

[paolo]

Fields are definitely the best place to play.

The new laws going through parliament now will allow private ownership under the firearms licensing regime. This will allow responsible people of good character to take paintball markers home. All the reason they will need is that they play paintball on their local field. They may have to have a gun cabinet or safe to store them in and pay a licensing fee.

Hopefully this will all become law sometime in the next 6 months or so.

[fillerbunny]

OK, so fields are the best place to play, but does that mean you have to use the field's markers? How do they get them?

I want to get into paintball as a sport but if I do so I'd want to own my own gear.

[TIMMAH]

your best to go to a field and enquire there