Pellet Gun Laws
Pellet gun laws are designed to provide protection against the unsupervised use of these weapons. Pellet guns can fire a projectile at over 700 feet per second with the potential to do serious harm to anyone hit by a pellet. In many jurisdictions, pellet guns fall under the definition of a firearm, and must be treated with respect and caution.
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Ownership
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The state of Massachusetts law concerning the possession and ownership of a pellet gun specifically states that children under 18 years of age may not have a BB gun or pellet gun in a public place unless they are under adult supervision, or have a license to hunt and have a permit from the local chief of police that gives them the right to own a pellet gun.
Prohibited Possession
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In the state of Wisconsin, pellet guns fall under the description of a firearm. So people who are prohibited from possessing firearms, including felons and others who have been prohibited by court decree, cannot own or use a pellet gun. The law applies to people who come from other states who have been convicted of a crime that would prohibit gun ownership in Wisconsin. People with restraining orders against them for domestic violence are also prohibited from owning and using a pellet gun.
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Misconceptions
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The state of Michigan differentiates between BB guns and pellet guns. The law states specifically that a pellet gun is considered a firearm and subject to all the regulations pertaining to the ownership and use of a firearm. BB guns and pistols that use blank cartridges are not considered firearms. This difference in the definition allows children to use a BB gun under adult supervision, and makes it clear that children should not be in possession of a pellet gun.
City Law
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The city of Colorado Springs prohibits the discharge of airguns and BB guns of any type in the city limits. The law does allow official members of a military company to discharge blanks in a parade or memorial service under controlled circumstances. Parents who desire to teach their children firearm safety with a pellet gun must do so outside the city limits, or at an officially sanctioned target range. Children should not be in possession of a pellet gun without adult supervision.
National Parks
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Recent congressional action lifted the ban on the possession of firearms in the nation's National Park System. Visitors may now openly carry firearms in the national parks as long as they do not discharge their firearms or engage in hunting activities. Because the new law did not address the status of pellet and BB guns, the National Park Service law still bans the possession of pellet and BB guns, along with bows and swords within the boundaries of all national parks.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cub scouts shooting bb guns image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
