Airsoft guns will be soon considered Firearms in NJ

[Steve]

I noticed that it regulates projectiles smaller than 3/8" in diameter.

Guess the kiddies will have to stick to their .68 caliber paintballs, huh?

Sadly, you won't find much in the way of sympathy here from me about airsoft guns being regulated as firearms. I absolutely support imitation firearms being sold only to responsible adults. I believe that youngsters should only be allowed to handle them under the supervision of their guardians, just like real bang sticks. Acting irresponsibly with a replica firearm carries real consequences.

I object to how NJ regulates firearms.

Now, I do have a couple of implementation questions, however:

NJ has an assault firearms ban that bans most scary looking semi-auto rifles, pistols, and high-capacity firearms. Does this law ban purchase of airsoft versions?

Also, if thy are to be treated as firearms, would this ban posession of selct-fire capable airsoft replicas as machine guns?

Are magazines in excess of 15 rounds banned for airsoft like they are for real firearms?

Seems like NJ is a bad place to be a firearm (or airsoft) enthusiast, really. I'd be okay with what OR does regarding NICS checks, providing that there was no tax stamp required for airsoft SBS, AOWs, SBRs and NFA replicas.

[Zeta Crossfire]

Why do I pick hobbies that the media and society looks down upon... Because there awesome! This really is pathetic...

[Martin.]

Turns out there was a mistake, it has been introduced not passed.

can you confirm this or show a source?

[k3gn3123512]

Turns out there was a mistake, it has been introduced not passed.

can you confirm this or show a source?

It is written on the njleg site, I cannot link it for some reason. It was stated as being introduced on the 12th of January 2010.

[Matt]

So lemme get this strait. You guys are complaining that children and people with criminal records won't be allowed to buy Airsoft guns without a permit. Really?

If you ask me, this law would filter out 80% of morons from getting their hands on Airsoft guns. These are people who should not own Airsoft guns to begin with. This leaves you with a better community of people who are actually better educated about firearms. If some 15 year old can't be bothered to get a simple permit - then he probably can't be bothered to pick up his trash at a game, or call his hits, or worry about safe engagement distances with his sniper rifle. Do you really want that moron owning an Airsoft gun and making the rest of us look bad?

Hell, they should take it one step further and require a firearms safety class to get the permit.

I know it'll effect retailers for sure. But seriously, how do you sleep at night knowing some of these idiots who are buying these things from you?

[DMitri]

I should start supporting gun bans, because apparently they make people stupid.

Here are the existing statutes.
http://www.tickethelpline.com/lawyer-at ... 17869.html (2C:39-1 is the one getting amended.)
http://www.tickethelpline.com/lawyer-at ... 18160.html

"Always treat airsoft replicas as if they were real and loaded." -- This canon gets repeated over and over, so why cry when the government agrees with you?

Steve's the only one to present an argument that still fits with that rule, because he's not arguing against the proposed law, which does nothing but include airsoft in the definition of firearms -- again, something we not only advocate, but live under ourselves, he's arguing against the existing laws regulating all firearms.

I see this bill passing, considering the current regulations were voted in, as well, and affect far more constituents. This might sound shocking, but progressives like New Jersey, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Cory Booker "advance" in politics in the next couple years.

[Kefka]

I'm moreso worried about this kind of law backfiring and causing a worse problem. As soon as you ban or restrict a person's passion, it will provoke a massive spike of interest in the general population.

Some examples include:
The Catholic Pope's negative remarks on the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter -- he unnecessarily made them as popular as ever from it, and now attempts to quiet his opinions on even more controversial books these days.

The PMRC back in the 80's with their desire to restrict music sales once lyrics started becoming explicit (just watch some of the hearings with Frank Zappa and Dee Snider [Twisted Sister singer]; they're hysterical!). Granted, musicians hated it initially. However, quickly switched sides when the "Explicit" label and "18+ only" restriction quadrupled sales for those albums. It almost guaranteed diamond and platinum status.

The ESRB with the restrictions of video games and "Rated M" material does the exact same thing -- it increased sales three-fold over the last decade. For instance, five of the top ten console games of 2009 were rated Mature.

Likewise, the MPAA and the MPA for the movie ratings systems uneventfully increase movie exposure for rated "R" movies versus what they could have received if given a lesser rating. When we were all younger, which movies did we try sneaking into? Certainly not "G".

And as for these new federal, state and local regulations, what's the one simple strategy to make these precautions futile? Parental ignorance. What is meant to educate the parents backfires into mere awareness that the game/movie/music/toy exist. When the child asks for the product, the parent can supply the goods just as a distributor supplies drugs from the manufacturer to the users.



Smart parents will already be aware of the product and have an opinion of it. Ignorant parents will purchase it despite the precautions anyway.



Side thought: States are already aware of this. Why else would Indiana, Alaska, and other states permit smoking for 18 year olds, yet cannot purchase cigarettes until they're 19?

[CalvinB]

If the US continues this crap im just going to stay in Japan.

yes, because a country where guns are flat out illegal is better than one where there is a very small chance, that in one state, REPLICA guns will be hard to get for those who have no business owning them