NY Bills Would Restrict BB, Pellet, and Air Guns (S9215/A10701)

Two bills introduced in the New York Legislature in early 2026 (S9215 on February 17, 2026 and A10701 on March 20, 2026) would amend the imitation-weapon definition and the rules for selling air guns. The amended bills preserve possession or use of air rifles, pellet guns, or BB guns lawfully acquired before the act takes effect.^[1]

What the Bills Would Do

The bills would include an air rifle, pellet gun, or BB gun in the definition of an imitation weapon when it substantially duplicates or can reasonably be perceived as an actual firearm.

• Bright coloring requirement: Covered imitation weapons would have to meet the existing color requirements or be made entirely of transparent or translucent materials.
• Age restriction: Purchase of any air gun would be restricted to persons age 18 or older.
• Functional capability prohibition: The bills would exempt air guns, air rifles, pellet guns, and BB guns from the requirement that an imitation weapon have a closed barrel.
• Reclassification: The bills would bring covered air guns within General Business Law rules for imitation weapons and gun industry members.

Current Law

The proposed changes to the imitation-weapon definition appear in General Business Law Section 871, rather than Penal Law Section 265.10. Under current law, the most significant restriction on air guns involves carrying them in public in a manner that could cause alarm. Penal Law Section 265.10(5) prohibits disposing of weapons covered by Section 265.05, including air guns, to anyone under sixteen. No state law currently requires bright coloring of air guns.^[2]

Background

The bills respond to concerns about incidents involving air guns that resemble real firearms. Proponents argue that bright coloring requirements and functional restrictions would reduce dangerous encounters where law enforcement or bystanders mistake an air gun for a live firearm. Critics contend that the bills would effectively ban a class of sporting equipment used for target shooting, pest control, and recreational activity without meaningful public safety benefit, and that a functional ban would be impossible to apply retroactively to the large number of air guns already in circulation.

Current Status

S9215 was introduced on February 17, 2026, and A10701 on March 20, 2026, with referrals to their respective committees. S9215-A was amended and recommitted to the Senate Consumer Protection Committee on May 4, 2026, and A10701-A was amended and recommitted to the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee on May 14, 2026. The bills have not been voted on in either chamber.^[3]

What to Watch

New York already has some of the nation's most restrictive laws on imitation firearms. Whether the Legislature will extend those restrictions to the broader category of functional air guns is uncertain. BB gun, pellet gun, and air rifle owners should monitor committee action on these bills. The amended bills protect possession or use of the listed air guns lawfully acquired before the act takes effect. The age-of-sale changes would take effect immediately. Sections 1, 3, 4, and 5 would take effect on the sixtieth day after enactment.