{"id":353194,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:39","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/airsoft-guns.html"},"modified":"2023-11-03T23:42:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T04:42:54","slug":"airsoft-guns","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/airsoft-guns.html","title":{"rendered":"Airsoft Guns: Product Liability and Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Airsoft Guns: Product Liability and Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Airsoft guns are realistic-looking replica firearms used for gaming, training, and props. They can still cause serious injuries, especially to the eyes. If you’re injured by an airsoft gun, you may have legal claims against the user or manufacturer, especially if the gun is defective.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Manufacturers make airsoft guns to look like real machine guns, rifles, and handguns. They typically fire pellets via gas, spring, or electrical systems. People use airsoft guns for paintball-style gaming, target practice, firearms training, and as movie props. They are similar to\u00a0BB guns or pellet guns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Retailers often market airsoft guns as game-playing devices that simulate actual combat with automatic or semi-automatic weapons. However, children’s and adults’ use of airsoft guns in other areas is growing.<\/p>\n

Because of airsoft guns’ uncanny resemblance to\u00a0real firearms<\/a>, many laws and regulations affect their manufacture, importation, and ownership. This article discusses some of the safety concerns with airsoft guns. It also highlights some of the laws regarding this product.<\/p>\n

If you’ve been injured by an airsoft gun, you can also talk to a product liability attorney<\/a> near you. An attorney can review your situation and determine if you have a valid claim. If so, they will advocate for you throughout the legal process and fight for fair compensation for your injuries.<\/p>\n

Airsoft Guns: Safety Concerns<\/h2>\n

Many people see airsoft guns as toys. However, they are projectile weapons capable of inflicting harm. According to a\u00a02019 study<\/a>, over 13,000 people under 18 years of age are injured with nonpowder guns yearly. And while the number of overall injuries has decreased significantly (55%), the number of eye injuries has increased by 30%.<\/p>\n

Air guns fire their BBs at speeds of hundreds of feet per second. They create a risk of serious eye injury. In recent years, hospitals and health care professionals nationwide have reported a significant rise in airsoft-related eye injuries.<\/p>\n

A more significant concern is that airsoft guns can have deadly consequences. There have been numerous instances in which\u00a0police shot people<\/a>\u00a0(often youths) holding realistic-looking airsoft guns because they thought the weapons were real.<\/p>\n

Because people view airsoft guns, spring guns, and BB guns as toys, young people owning the weapons sometimes do not appreciate the risks they face simply holding these “toy guns.”<\/p>\n

Airsoft Guns Laws and Regulations<\/h2>\n

United States\u00a0federal importation laws<\/a> require that all airsoft guns transported within or imported into the country have barrels with a minimum 6-mm-wide blaze orange tip. This is so people don’t confuse them with real firearms.<\/p>\n

Most retailers have disclaimers stating that their airsoft guns come with orange tips and that removing them is illegal.<\/p>\n

There are other regulations on the use of airsoft guns. You must be 18 or older in the USA to purchase airsoft guns and AEGs (electric airsoft rifles). However, these products are not classified as firearms and are legal under federal law.<\/p>\n

Some states and municipalities restrict the use and purchase of airsoft guns. Some jurisdictions outlaw them entirely:<\/p>\n