Is airsoft legal in New York City?

NYC and national airsoft laws and legal issues
Post Reply
User avatar
Moondog
Site Admin
Posts: 4386
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:24 pm
First Name: Tom
Last Name: DelMundo
Location: New York
Contact:

Is airsoft legal in New York City?

Post by Moondog »

Image

Is airsoft legal in New York City?
by Moondog


Here's the short answer: Under certain conditions

Here's the long answer: Don't expect the NYPD to come knocking on your door with a warrant for your airsoft toys... unless you do something STUPID. Stay below the radar and be responsible. In New York City...

DO NOT displaying your airsoft toys in public view
DO NOT play airsoft outdoors
DO NOT play in a park or public space
DO NOT bring your airsoft guns to school
DO NOT act like a knucklehead


BUYING and OWNERSHIP
Most airsoft guns are not allowed to be sold in NYC due to city ordinances against realistic toy guns. Airsoft guns can be bought and sold as toy guns in New York City if they are entirely clear or entirely brightly colored (ie. red, yellow, orange, etc.). New York City Administrative Code § 10-131(b) and New York City Administrative Code § 10-131(g)(1)(a) http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/pdf/gov ... oyguns.pdf and a copy of the complete code can be read here: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=813&p=1314

NYC airsofters buy their toys outside of the city or online. Most online airsoft retailers will ship to New York City, but some online retailers (ie. Pyramid Air) will not because they also sell BB/airguns, which are restricted items in NYC. As you can see most of the above laws were written to restrict sales of toy guns and air guns (ie. metal BB guns).


DO I NEED A LICENSE?
NYC does not issue airsoft licenses. Most airsoft rifles and pistols do not have unique serial numbers to register so can't get a firearms or airgun license for an airsoft toy. The bottom line is that the NYPD doesn't want to deal with them unless you do something criminal with them. If you are caught with one, they will be confiscated and you will be charged with a violation.


PLAYING AIRSOFT
Due to the legal restrictions just described there are no airsoft fields within the 5 boroughs. This is why all airsoft players attend games on fields outside of New York City, such as Long Island, New Jersey and New York's Hudson Valley. For a list of fields, read here: viewforum.php?f=32


TRANSPORTING AIRSOFT GUNS
Transporting airsoft guns across state lines also has some legal issues, see here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=730.



NEW YORK AIRSOFT LINKS
For a list of places to play airsoft legally please see: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=732


NYCAirsoft.com
NYC based forum with extensive technical guides and listings for events within 2-hours of Manhattan. "The definitive guide to airsoft for New York City" http://www.nycairsoft.com

New York City Airsoft
Facebook group for NYC airsoft players: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nycairsoftmail


Strike Force Sports
Airsoft store with the largest CQB arena in the East Coast and accessible by taxi from the Deer Park LIRR station. http://www.strikeforcesports.net


Modern Air Strike
Large indoor CQB arena within 2 blocks of the LIRR station in Lindhurst, Long Island
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1708


HotSpot Airsoft
Closest airsoft store to New York City (just outside of the city limits in Oceanside Long Island) http://www.hotspotairsoft.com


Paintball Sports Int.
Huge woods and MOUT field in the Hudson Valley 2-hrs north of New York City. http://www.paintballsportsny.com


Hudson Valley Airsoft
Medium sized airsoft-only field within Cousins New Windsor paintball field. 2-hrs north of New York City. http://www.hudsonvalleyairsoft.com


Zulu 24 Tactical Park
Newest airsoft-only field in the Hudson Valley, 2-hrs north of New York City. http://www.zulu24.com


NJ Airsoft Association
Oldest NJ based airsoft forum with information on events near New York
http://airsoftnj.com


NYC Paintball
No airsoft whatsoever, but notable in that it is the closest paintball field to Manhattan
http://newyorkcitypaintball.com



DISCLAIMER
We do not advocate breaking laws. The views posted here are opinions, not legal advice.
Goggles fogging? Get Moondog D-Fog :: See the RULES forum :: Please complete your new account activation. :: Read the guide on face photo avatars

User avatar
SlamSlayer
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:28 am
First Name: Matthew
Last Name: Cohen

Re: Is airsoft legal in New York City?

Post by SlamSlayer »

I'm new to airsoft but play paintball and I just wanted to make a correction here. On Staten Island theres an outdoor field called Cousins Paintball. Which is actually a chain with fields in NJ, LI, Texas and there used to be one upstate as well. The LI and NJ fields both do airsoft games as well. Sadly the SI field doesn't, for obvious reasons. This field has been around for YEARS. It was previously known as Staten Island Paintball before Cousins bought the spot. So NYC Paintball isn't the only spot (although they're practically more of a laser tag place now lol).

http://www.cousinspaintball.com/index.c ... =home.home

User avatar
Moondog
Site Admin
Posts: 4386
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:24 pm
First Name: Tom
Last Name: DelMundo
Location: New York
Contact:

Re: Is airsoft legal in New York City?

Post by Moondog »

Thanks for the info on that. Cousins/SI Paintball is noted for being in a suit trying to fight the NYC toy gun law when they were fined for selling airsoft guns. Unfortunately the NYC Supreme Court struck down their appeal.
Goggles fogging? Get Moondog D-Fog :: See the RULES forum :: Please complete your new account activation. :: Read the guide on face photo avatars

Post Reply