Democratic Rep. Kevin Mullin (Calif.) has introduced legislation aiming to reclassify certain air guns as firearms under federal law. The bill, which Mullin described as “Garrett’s Law,” follows the death of a constituent who used an air gun after being prohibited from owning conventional firearms.
Mullin stated that the legislation would require background checks for air gun purchasers and mandate that manufacturers of high-velocity air guns become federal firearms licensees within a year. The law targets air guns launching .177 pellets at 800 feet per second, .22 caliber pellets at 500 feet per second, and .25 caliber pellets at 450 feet per second. Air guns firing metallic pellets larger than .25 caliber would also be classified as firearms.
Ann Edwards said in a statement that her son experienced “late onset psychosis” and was “able to access a lethal airgun through Amazon.” Supporters argue the bill closes a gap for mentally compromised individuals who can legally obtain high-velocity air guns despite being prohibited from conventional firearms.
Critics, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R), labeled the initiative “fundamentally unserious,” while the National Association for Gun Rights called it part of an “attempted Australia-ification” of the U.S. Daisy, the company behind the iconic Red Ryder BB gun, warned that the legislation would reclassify high-velocity air guns as firearms, stating their goal is to include all such guns under this classification. Young Americans for Liberty echoed concerns, noting the move targets “BB guns as ‘firearms.’”
