Airsoft enthusiasts from the Land Down Under are in full gear to get their petitions to legalise airsoft in Australia. Previously, it was the efforts of Airsoft Australia and Milsim Association of Australia that were at the forefront. But with missteps in the previous attempt, remaining members of Airsoft Australia teamed with the Misim Association to form the Australian Airsoft Council to pursue the legalisation efforts.

Airsoft in Australia is illegal with all the States having different regulations but the effect is still the same. With New Zealand and other neighbouring countries enjoying airsoft, the airsoft enthusiasts in the various states are now coordinating efforts to legalise airsoft under the Council.

They are tenacious, as proposal after proposal they sent to police ministers were rejected. But they are not giving up, with airsoft growing worldwide and various governments have either kept them unregulated or put into place regulations without impedding the practice of the sport, the Aussies can rely on a growing body of sample regulations and practices that can lead to the eventual approval of airsoft.

They are tenacious, as proposal after proposal they have sent to police ministers have been rejected. But they are not giving up, with airsoft growing worldwide and various governments have either kept them unregulated or put into place regulations without impedding the practice of the sport, the Aussies can rely on a growing body of sample regulations and practices that can lead to the eventual approval of airsoft.

With their Airsoft Petition Drive 2012, it seems that the approach of the Airsoft Australia Council is at the state level rather than at the national one since each state issues its own regulation with regards to firearms and firearm replicas. Collecting enough signatures in their petition drive will pressure the government to respond to their petitions, which means they will have to open their doors for a dialogue and get the inputs of those who are for or against the legalisation of airsoft.

Do they need international support? Indeed they do, as we can send them case studies on how airsoft is regulated in our own countries, and that providing them inputs on how to make proposed regulations in case the politicians and police ministers will demand their solution to avoid abuse of replica firearms such as showing them in public, safety, transport, and third party liabilities.

But the most important thing is to help them gather signatures. You may be outside of Australia but you may have a friend who resides there and can be sympathetic to their cause. You can email them to visit their website or join them at their Facebook page. Ask them to sign the petitions and have others sign as well.

This is a big push by the Aussies, and it would give them even more confidence if they know that the international airsoft community got their backs.