Today’s airguns, BB guns and pellet guns are extremely powerful, so naturally you may be wondering if they are regulated by state or federal laws. In the United States there are currently no federal laws that regulate airgun, BB guns or pellet guns. The same holds true for several states, but there are also several states that do regulate these guns.
The following states regulate airguns, BB guns and pellet guns, often under the term “Non-powder guns” and the amount of regulation varies by state. Below you will find several list of these varying degrees and the states that operating with them.
The following states regulate the transfer, use or possession of airguns, BB guns and pellet guns:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
The following states treat all “non-powder” guns as firearms (this includes airguns, BB guns and pellet guns):
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
The following states treat certain “non-powder”guns are firearms (this generally includes airguns, BB guns and pellet guns):
- Illinois
- Michigan
The following states define “non-powder” guns as dangerous or deadly weapons:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- North Dakota
The following states Impose Age Restrictions on Possession, Use, or Transfer of Non-Powder Guns:
- California
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
The following states that Explicitly Regulate Possession of Non-Powder Guns on School Grounds:
(Editor’s Note: Though several states do not explicitly regulate this, it is never advisable to carry an airgun, BB gun or pellet gun on school grounds)
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin