A California Democrat’s bill would treat many powerful BB and pellet guns like firearms under federal law, pulling airguns into background checks and dealer rules.
Story Highlights
- Rep. Kevin Mullin’s “Garrett’s Law” would classify lethal airguns as firearms under the Gun Control Act.
- The bill would trigger background checks, dealer licensing, and serialization for qualifying airguns.
- Supporters say it closes a safety gap; critics call it a redefinition of BB guns as firearms.
- Mullin says the bill exempts airsoft and paintball, and does not ban all airguns.
What Mullin’s Bill Would Do Under Federal Law
Rep. Kevin Mullin introduced “Garrett’s Law” to classify certain lethal, high-powered airguns as firearms under the Gun Control Act. That shift would place affected models under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for rules that include background checks, dealer licensing, and serialization. Mullin’s office says modern airguns can cause serious injury or death and face fewer safeguards now. The bill aims to align lethal airguns with the rules that already apply to regular guns.
Mullin’s public statement stresses limits. He says the bill does not ban airguns. He also says it would not affect airsoft guns, paintball guns, or airguns that are not powerful enough to kill. His goal, he argues, is to set a floor based on lethality, not to sweep in youth plinkers or common sporting gear. That framing presents the proposal as a targeted fix rather than a broad crackdown.
Why Supporters Say This Targets A Real Gap
Supporters argue federal law defines a firearm by the action of an explosive, which leaves even very strong airguns outside the core rules. They say that gap lets people buy powerful airguns without a check, even when those devices can injure or kill. Moving lethal airguns under existing gun rules, they claim, simply matches risk with responsibility. They add that guidance for makers and sellers would help them comply with licensing and record-keeping standards.
Coverage of the proposal says buyers of qualifying airguns would face the same National Instant Criminal Background Check System process as buyers of rifles and pistols. That would pull these sales into the same retail system, with form entries and verification before delivery. The idea is to stop easy, anonymous purchases of the most powerful airguns, while keeping hobby and sport models untouched. That claim rests on the bill’s “lethal” threshold approach.
Why Critics See Overreach And A New Precedent
Critics say this is not a minor tweak. They argue it redefines BB and pellet guns as firearms in practice, sweeping in common models and normalizing new rules over gear that never used gunpowder. Outlets hostile to the plan frame it as gun control by reclassification. They warn that once Washington sets a lethality test for airguns, more products could be pulled into federal gun databases and dealer mandates down the road, blurring a line that was once clear.
Some reports add specific velocity thresholds to show how far the net might reach. They say certain.177,.22, and.25 caliber airguns could be covered if they launch pellets above listed speeds, which many off-the-shelf air rifles can do. That picture fuels the pushback that ordinary backyard or small-game models might face firearm-level hurdles. These details highlight a core fight over where the line should be drawn and who decides the cutoffs.
How This Fits The Larger Gun Policy Fight
This bill lands in a long debate over how the law treats technology that shifts risk. Federal code ties “firearm” to explosive force, not compressed air. That leaves a class of devices with rising power outside gun checks and serialization. Supporters see a safety mismatch. Opponents see a bright line that protects lawful sport and clear rules. The clash is about definitions, thresholds, and whether Washington should expand control or keep clear limits.
Where things go next will test Congress and the White House. President Trump has set a tone of protecting the Second Amendment and reducing red tape. House Republicans will likely press for narrow, clear standards or block moves that treat common airguns like firearms. Voters who value family traditions, safe training, and personal responsibility will watch for any creep that punishes lawful owners while doing little to stop crime or fix mental health gaps.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, x.com, kevinmullin.house.gov, breitbart.com, cbsnews.com
