State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said the sale of airsoft and BB weapons is not regulated at the state level. However, there are towns and villages with their own ordinances on air guns and/or BB rifles, including Stratford, Seymour and Bridgeport. «Pellet guns, BB guns have always been a problem,» he said. «We see (now) a lot of people buying a lot of very authentic military weapons for airsoft.» «Airsoft weapons are designed as toys, but some look really realistic,» he said, adding that there were «obvious implications» for this realism. But these differences don`t always stop police officers or the general public from confusing airsoft guns or pellet guns with the real stuff. Those who use airsoft weapons consider them completely harmless, something that can be used responsibly on private property and special fields throughout the state. The use of these weapons can be deadly. In July, a teenager died in Berlin four days after being shot with a pellet gun, according to NBC Connecticut. Police said the shooting appeared to have been an accident. ARTICLE 2 – PARKS AND RESORTS.§ 7-24.
– Fish and wildlife. (e) No person shall hunt, capture or pursue wildlife at any time, and no person shall use firearms, air rifles, feather guns, bows and arrows, slings or any type of security equipment or any other weapon or explosive to frighten, injure or kill wildlife, except for wildlife management purposes, as authorized by the Director, in consultation with the Director of Conservation and approved by the Board of Directors of Selectmen. «There are so many real weapons that I think the possibility of a toy being mistaken for a gun is not a big deal,» he said. Bb guns are more powerful than airsoft weapons because projectiles fired by a BB Gun are heavier, which means they penetrate targets better. The high speed, in turn, makes it painful to hit them. His group has a page on its website describing its opposition to bills to regulate similar weapons. BB weapons are generally prohibited in hunting grounds leased and authorized by the state. You can`t hunt turkeys, waterfowl, or other government-regulated migratory birds with a BB gun. There are additional restrictions on deer hunting. If you hunt on private land, make sure you have permission from the landowner. You must keep a copy of the written authorization form for you at all times during the hunt. But Vance said that «while there is certainly a handicap» with these weapons, it`s important to put the problem into perspective.
BB and pellet guns are not considered firearms under federal law because they emit projectiles through the action of compressed air and not through explosives. Weapons are transported by many chain stores, including most Walmart stores and some small retailers. Ryan Brown, director of the Army Barracks in Newington, said airsoft pistols are one of the most popular items in the Army Surplus Store. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy a BB gun, although parents are allowed to buy one and give it to their children. When purchasing a firearm for a minor, a parent assumes responsibility for properly training the child to use the firearm safely. In addition, minors who fire a BB weapon must be under the supervision of an adult during their use. Most people are prohibited from carrying dangerous weapons in Connecticut, and BB weapons are considered dangerous weapons under state law. Carrying a BB weapon that violates this law is a Class E crime.
The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $3,000 and three years in prison. The maximum penalty for illegally carrying a dangerous weapon in a vehicle is a fine of $1,000 and five years in prison. Letter of Intent: Make it a violation for any person, degrade the marks on any resembling firearm and prohibit the possession of similar firearms, paintballs, pellet guns and BB. Weapons within one thousand five hundred feet of, real estate that includes a public or private elementary or secondary school. This law allows residents 21 years of age or older to carry electronic defense weapons such as tasers or stun guns if they have a valid firearms license. Previously, Connecticut only allowed those who had a «dangerous weapons» license to possess electronic defense weapons. He said they were taken by people who used them in crimes or other dangerous situations, and they should be destroyed. Tammaro said that in some cases, a judge could order a person not to retrieve their weapon, even if the person is not convicted. Tammaro said the similar weapons seized by police have several features designed to make them real. Some of these properties come from manufacturers. He said they are increasingly designing BB pistols, airsoft weapons and toys to look like real weapons, including detachable slides, marks that look like real weapons and a weight that looks like real weapons. For many airsoft enthusiasts, weapons are used in games where players compete to achieve an objective.
WEST HAVEN >> weeks after a man armed with a BB gun triggered a lockdown at West Haven High School, local law enforcement officials said simulated guns — which look like guns but don`t fire bullets — are becoming increasingly realistic. There is no greater evidence of the strange similarity between airsoft weapons and lethal weapons than the arrest of four men near Wooster Middle School in Stratford on Tuesday. Burgess also said that people who make threats or commit crimes with weapons resembling weapons that make people believe they could die should know that someone could retaliate with bullets. Detective Lt. Frank Eannotti of Stratford said the city`s ordinance has been around for as long as he can remember, though he doesn`t know if there`s a specific reason for it. But he said there are legitimate concerns about air guns – most of the time, they are confused with reality. West Haven police have seized dozens of them this year, from airsoft pistols to BB weapons that resemble assault rifles, like the one reportedly seized after the Oct. 26 lockdown. Chapter 36 – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONSSec. 36-1. – unloading of firearms; Violations and sanctions.
(a) No person under the age of 16 may fire firearms, air rifles or air pistols within the city limits unless such release is in the presence and supervision of the minor`s parent or guardian or a qualified instructor at an authorized site. (b) Any person who contravenes this section shall be fined $100.00.
