But wait there’s more! Hard Air Magazine has already brought you information about airgun ownership threats in New York State. Now the ASA (Airguns Sporting Association) has found developing threats in the legislatures of Illinois and Washington States too.
And there could be more that the ASA has not found yet!
What this means is that all of us need to be concerned about threats to our airguns in many parts of the USA – particularly if you live in a “Blue” State.
The remarkable “coincidence” of proposed anti-airgun legislation in the 2025-6 legislative sessions of so many States makes it possible that it’s not a “coincidence” at all. In fact, it’s easy to imagine that this is a coordinated policy by a range of anti-gun zealots at State level across the country.
First, the threat remains high in New York. However, the NRA has weighed-in to help and this is undoubtedly beneficial. But it’s not over, the threat still remains.
Airgun Ownership Threats in Illinois State
Illinois State Senate Bill SB2123 is described as an amendment to the existing “Consumer Fraud And Deceptive Businesses Act”. This proposes to make illegal the private or commercial sale of firearms. But the airgun issue has been inserted too.
As part of this bill, there is a definition of “imitation firearm”. That definition includes airguns and BB guns. Amazingly, this definition – and it’s exemption, bright colors, plugged barrels etc. – is remarkably similar to the wording used in the New York State.
Surely that must be a coincidence? Not…
The difference here is that – instead of conflating airguns and BB guns with “toys”, in the IL version, they are to be regarded as firearms.
At any event, this proposed Bill is waiting to be assigned to a Committee stage of the current State legislative session. It’s another HUGE threat to airguns!
Airgun Ownership Threats in Washington State
Moving further West across the country, there’s also a Bill in Committee in WA State targeting airguns.
Washington State Senate Bill 5735 is also in Committee. Yet again we see the intention to classify airguns and BB guns as “imitation firearms” with the definition requiring bright colors, plugged barrels etc.
As with the NY State attempt, this proposed Bill references the Federal Statute (15 U.S.C. § 5001) dealing with look-alike or imitation firearms. This long-standing Statute specifically exempts traditional BB and pellet-firing air guns. It also specifically supersedes any state or local laws that seek to address the same issue.
Again, as with NY State, Washington State Senate Bill 5735 intends – in my opinion – to overrule the Federal Law which has been in place since 1988.
Note that this Bill did not make it out of the Committee stage this year. But we can expect to see it again at the start of the next legislative year.
Airgun Ownership Threats And The ASA
The remarkable “coincidence” of proposed anti-airgun legislation in the 2025-6 legislative sessions of multiple States makes it possible that it’s not a “coincidence” at all. Particularly when we consider the similarity of the points raised – and even the language employed!
So – if we are dealing with a coordinated policy by a range of anti-gun zealots at State level across the country – airgunners need a way to defend ourselves and our lawful, law-abiding hobby.
One way is to make your thoughts known where there’s an issue in your own home State. If you live in Illinois or Washington States, please do that: the process will be similar to that we described for New York.
But that State-by-State approach fragments us. That’s likely the plan: to coordinate a range of Bills in multiple States, rather than attempt it at a Federal level.
That makes our best defense the Airgun Sporting Association. The ASA is already working to oppose these threats to airgunning. We need to support the ASA as a country-wide organization that represents ALL AIRGUNNERS!
But there’s one more thing we can all do. Please check the current proposed legislation (Bills) that are under way in your own State. If you find there’s yet more anti-airgun stuff that the ASA has not yet identified, please post in the HAM Community.
Unfortunately, there’s sure to be more to come on this story…
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