NJ: Bill introduced to clarify that “airsoft” guns are firearms.

NJ Legislature ^ | 11-08-07 | NJ Legislature

[KeyesPlease]

STATEMENT

This bill would clarify that “airsoft” guns constitute firearms and therefore are subject to this State’s strict laws regulating the sale, possession, and use of firearms.

Airsoft guns are replica firearms used primarily for sporting and recreational purposes, including military games. They use compressed-air, gas, or spring or electric-operated pistons to shoot non-metallic pellets or balls. Because these guns shoot plastic rather than metal pellets, it is not clear under current law whether they are considered firearms similar to “BB” guns. Therefore, the bill revises the definition of a firearm by specifying that any air gun, spring gun, gun utilizing a gas or electric-operated piston, pistol, including one that is shoulder-fired, or similar weapon which ejects a pellet or ball made of polymer or metallic-coated polymer constitutes a firearm. Under this revised definition, airsoft guns would be considered firearms and regulated similar to BB guns.

For example, a person would have to be at least 21 years of age to purchase an airsoft handgun or 18 years of age to purchase airsoft rifles. The person also would have to obtain a permit to purchase the gun, pass a criminal background check, and not be subject to any disqualifications for firearms ownership.

Police officers in municipalities throughout this State report an increase in the use of these authentic looking airsoft guns by juveniles. While federal law mandates that toy guns have an orange tip, including airsoft guns, they have been known to be sold without these tips. And even if they are lawfully sold with the appropriate tip, both juvenile and adult buyers often alter the tips so that they cannot be differentiated from real guns. This situation resulted in tragedy in Longwood, Florida when 15 year-old Chris Penley threatened his classmates with an airsoft gun which appeared to be a Beretta 9mm. Penley was killed when he pointed the gun at a police officer. It is the sponsor’s hope that such tragic consequences can be avoided in this State by strictly regulating airsoft guns.

[KeyesPlease]

This from a Democrat and a Republican in the New Jersey Legislature. Pathetic.

[Slapshot68]

Next will be paintball guns.

[KeyesPlease]

Wouldn’t be a surprise. Slingshots are illegal in the PRNJ.

[bolobaby]

“Penley was killed when he pointed the gun at a police officer. It is the sponsor’s hope that such tragic consequences can be avoided in this State by strictly regulating airsoft guns.”

There’s the idiocy in a nutshell.

The problem is not airsoft guns - it’s a mentally instable individual. If airsoft guns aren’t available, they’ll use their automobile to wreak carnage. If not that, a molotov cocktail, or baseball bat, or knife... etc...

[AFreeBird]

I think, judging from the language in the article, that this covers paintball guns.

But I thought firearms required a component of fire to be labeled as such.

Of course our founders were very wise. They protected the right to keep and bear arms. Which should cover anything that could be construed as an arm, fire or not. Electrons, photons, particles.... It is the 21st century after all.

[TheThirdRuffian]

They apparently already consider BB guns firearms. That’s absurd.

Makes me want to develop a cheap particle beam weapon.

[Ancesthntr]

I am so glad not to live in the PRNJ any more. How sick, how pathetic, how (in the words of Kim DuToit) pu$$ified my home state has become.

[Haddit]

Those damned squirles in my yard will be happy to hear that.

[tacticalogic]

They’re just codifying the liberal philosophy that “perception is reality”. If it looks like a firearm, then it is a firearm. Whether or not it actually performs the function of a firearm is irrelevant.

[2harddrive]

Are FIREARMS considered firearms in Zoo Jersey? Toys are firearms? What a pathetic joke. Why not consider them nukes? HEY, Zoo Jersey: How many legs does a COW have, if you count the tail as a leg?

[mvpel]

[The_Repugnant_Conservative]

NJ Requires a permit for a BB Gun? WTF

Just think if Audy Murphy had grown up in present day NJ.

[Hegemony Cricket]

I have heard of (at least) one person being shot and killed when he pointed his cell-phone at a LEO, who thought it was a gun. Ban cell phones?

[RikaStrom]

for home

[papertyger]

Did someone forget to memo New Jersey about the whole “Revolutionary War” thing?

They no longer have to live like British subjects.

[Caipirabob]

Fine. Might as well carry a real firearm instead if it's the same penalty as the airsoft gun.

democrats: making criminals out of all citizens regardless of the law...

[Right Wing Assault]

So if I came up with a non-polymer pellet for airsoft guns, that would be OK for me to sell? How about concrete pellets? Them suckers would sting!

[tcostell]

We were actually perilously close to letting the animal rights crowd ban both hunting and fishing in the state. One of their wackjob supporters in the assembly put forward a bill to that effect but he was just voted out of office.

Some Details here:

http://freenj.blogspot.com/2007/11/someone-dropped-house-on-my-assemblyman.html

and others here:

http://freenj.blogspot.com/2007/09/banning-hunting-guns-and-goose-liver.html

[Popman]

Makes me want to develop a cheap particle beam weapon.

I think the words "cheap" + "particle beam" aren't going to be said in a T.V. commercial anytime soon, but if you happen to do it, I'd buy your first 10,000 shares :)

[Kozak]

A ban on pointy knives was proposed in Britain.
I kid you not.