- Airsoft rifles are subject to legislation due to their similarity to real firearms.Airsoft Scene image by DanielC from Fotolia.com
According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, injuries caused by Airsoft guns, their erroneous identification by the police and the public, and their use in criminal activities are all a near-weekly occurrence. For this reason, there have been a number of laws introduced regarding the importation, ownership and manufacture of Airsoft guns. - Airsoft guns are illegal in Washington, D.C.; New York City; San Francisco; Chicago; and some parts of Michigan. In California, it is illegal to brandish Airsoft rifles in public places. Furthermore, anyone using an Airsoft gun to commit a crime will be treated as if they had used a real firearm.
- In the United States, individuals must be over 18 to buy an Airsoft rifle. However, because Airsoft guns are not legally regarded as firearms, they may be legitimately used by people of any age.
- Federal importation laws require Airsoft guns to have a 6 mm orange strip at the end of the barrel. Only guns with this mark may be legally imported and transported within the country. The orange tip is intended to distinguish Airsoft guns from real weapons. Most retailers selling Airsoft guns warn consumers that it is illegal to remove the marking.
- Asian manufacturers of Airsoft guns use trademarks of real firearm companies when creating their replicas. Any nonlicensed trademarks must be removed from Airsoft guns before they are permitted to enter the United States.
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