Proposed Changes to BB and Pellet Gun Regulations in New York

A new bill making its way through New York aims to classify BB guns and pellet guns as “imitation weapons.” This legislation would also raise the minimum age for purchasing these items and mandate that they be painted in bright colors.

The bill in question is S9215. As reported, the regulations would require airguns to be either clear or brightly colored, along with having a plug in the barrel. This change could render many existing models unusable, since they wouldn’t be able to shoot projectiles anymore.

There’s another related bill, A10701, which expands on the provisions of S9215.

The language of A10701 specifies that “‘imitation weapon’ refers to any device or object, including air rifles, pellet guns, or BB guns, whether made from plastic, wood, metal, or other materials that closely replicate or reasonably resemble an actual firearm…”

Moreover, A10701 also includes paintball guns under its definition of “imitation weapons.”

This legislation effectively groups airguns with real firearms by labeling them as “imitation weapons,” thereby extending existing firearm laws to cover them as well.

For instance, the bill outlines that:

All members of the firearms industry who manufacture, sell, import, or engage in wholesale or retail transactions involving eligible products or imitation weapons in New York State must establish and implement adequate controls to prevent illegal possession, usage, or sale of these items in the state.

There are also additional provisions in A10701 that could pose further complications for those in the firearms community.