Airguns are not toys! Yes, I know, that seems obvious to all readers of Hard Air Magazine and anyone who understands anything about shooting. But that’s not the case with the current attempt to ban airguns in New York.
Last month, HAM reported on the current spate of anti-airgun legislation that has “spontaneously” broken-out across the country.
Well, it’s not going away and today we have – courtesy of the Airguns Shooting Association – some background on what the New York proposals are still trying to do.
Amazingly, they’re trying to classify airguns as toys! Yes, TOYS! Somehow the earnest people behind this initiative feel that the world will be a safer place if airguns are painted in bright colors – like a toy – and treated as such.
Now I know this is counter-intuitive, but they do not actually seem to be concerned with the fact that airguns must be treated with respect and can be dangerous if mis-handled. They don’t seem to understand that painting them in bright colors won’t make them safer.
It seems they simply don’t understand that airguns are not toys. The lack of understanding is breathtaking!!!
(Background sound of head banging against the wall in disbelief!)
By taking this approach, they ignore the uncomfortable fact that there are many brightly-colored FIREARMS available legally over-the-counter today. Yes, in New York State, also. So are these firearms to be treated as toys too? Now there’s a really frightening prospect…
And what if criminals simply choose to paint their firearms in bright colors to make law-breaking “safer”? (For them, at least).
Sure, there are a few brightly-colored airguns. But the overwhelming majority are predominantly black in color. They look like guns – even if not necessarily like firearms to the trained eye. Even the humble Daisy Red Ryder. That’s a big clue right there that airguns are not toys.
Product color is not a definition of lethality (or the lack of it). And it can easily be changed by unscrupulous individuals.
So what would happen if airguns were forced to be brightly colored and look like toys? It’s a safe bet that there would be a vast increase in tragic accidents due to mishandling and treating them without due respect. Like – well – toys!
Actually, the New York logic is very similar to that used against airguns by the State of California back in 2012. That was another ill-conceived attempt to ban airguns by conflating them with toys. It eventually failed, for logical, sensible reasons. But that doesn’t seem to have been understood by the good people in New York.
If this proposed legislation is passed in New York, it would likely cause confusion and increase tragic shooting incidents. That’s exactly the reverse of the New York intention.
Treating airguns as toys is simply the wrong way to achieve the “public safety” result they are aiming for.
Again. The profound – and amazing – lack of understanding of airguns behind this crazy proposed legislation is breathtaking.
So, if you live in New York State, tell them that airguns are not toys!
1. If you haven’t, please read the other posts in Hard Air Magazine for more background.
New York State Airgun Ban In The Works
Why The Proposed Bills To Ban Airguns In NY State Violate Federal Law And The US Constitution
NY Proposed Airgun Ban – The ASA Takes Action!
New York State Airgun Law Proposal Update
Airgun Ownership Threats In NY, IL, And WA
2. Visit the Airgun Shooting Association website. Click on the tab in the top left of the Home Page that says “Save Airguns In New York”.
Then use the ASA’s Legislative Petition Portal to send a digitally-signed letter to your representatives.
3. New York State provides residents with the ability to read proposed legislation and give their opinion on it. Make use of it. Tell them that airguns are not toys!
This online system allows you to register your support or opposition to a bill and to receive status alerts on its progress through the legislative process. It also provides a link for New York residents to find their state Senator, should you wish to contact them on any issue.
Remember that there are TWO New York State airgun law proposals and you need to register your opinion on BOTH of them.
You can read the proposed State Senate Bill S9215 here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9215
The proposed Assembly Bill is here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10701
Thanks in advance for your help and support!
The post Airguns Are Not Toys – An Update On NY Anti-Airgun Legislation appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.
