New York Gun Control Push Now Targets… BB Guns?

Air rifles like the Red Ryder BB Gun have been a part of the United States since their invention.

When lawmakers run out of things to regulate, they don’t stop, they just move down the list. This has been the warning to gun owners for years. It is something we have seen time and time again. The goal is always total disarmament and not just partial. That’s exactly what we are seeing now in New York. Anti-gun legislators are now setting their sights on air rifles, pellet guns, and BB guns.

What’s Already Banned

New York already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. These restrictions include bans on so-called “assault weapons”, magazines over 10 rounds, suppressors, “Rapid fire” devices, and unserialized firearms and components.

Even beyond firearms, the state regulates everything from toy guns to novelty items. The reality is that it will never be enough. They will always want more until they have removed everything from civilians hands.

The New Target: Air Guns

Two new bills—S9215 and A10701—aim to redefine air rifles, pellet guns, and BB guns as “imitation weapons.” While that might sound harmless, but the implications are anything but. If passed, these bills would require Air Guns to meet “toy gun” standards.

In order for these to be sold legally, they would need to be brightly colored or transparent. These bills would also have to have plugged or closed barrels. These bills would also have First Amendment implications as it would place strict marking requirements on their advertisements.

There is a major issue with these bills outside of the restrictions on rights, it is the design of the bills. A plugged barrel means it is impossible for them to function as air guns anymore. The other issue is the bills raise the Purchase Age to 18 years-old. With such a high age limit hard to argue it is a “toy”.

Another change these laws make is making the manufacturers of air guns treated like full firearm industry members. This means they would be subject to additional regulations, increased legal liability for misuse, and new compliance burdens.

The Reality: These Aren’t “Imitation Weapons”

While air guns aren’t toys, they are commonly used for training new shooters. Several types are used for competitive shooting sports. Most people utilize them for pest control and small game hunting and youth shooting programs.

We see several organizations like 4-H and the Boy Scouts operate competitive shooting leagues. They are used to train the next generations in the proper use of firearms. Alos air guns often allow for pest control in areas that would not allow for the safe operation of firearms like neighborhoods.

The Bigger Pattern

This is something we have been warning about for a long time. It is that firearm bans and gun control are not about “safety”. We’ve seen this progression before where bans are ever expanding. Every bit of ground given is never enough. These anti-2a politicians will keep coming back for more until they take all of our rights.

This will continue even with anything even resembling a firearm. This isn’t about a single bill, it’s about the mindset if it looks like a gun, regulate it. If it works like a gun, ban it. But what’s Being Ignored is since New York already has strict laws that restrict minors from possessing air guns, what is this actually accomplishing?

The Likely Outcome

If this bill passes as written, functional air guns will most likely disappear from legal sale in New York. This will greatly affect youth shooting programs. If manufacturers want to continue to operate in New York they would face new legal risks. All this and nothing here will address actual criminal misuse.

All this does is show how far New York’s push shows for gun control will go. This exposes that it is no longer just about public safety, it’s about control over anything connected to shooting. We see this clearly at 2 If By Sea Tactical. We know that the line doesn’t stop at firearms, it keeps moving.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

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