How do I legally own paintball equipment in New York City?
The laws you’re thinking of aren’t exactly gun laws, although they are related. Many large cities have problems with people using things like airsoft replica guns and paintball guns to imitate real weapons in robberies etc. There are also the obvious issues with property damage caused by misuse of these toys. For this reason many cities have banned the carrying of these items under certain circumstances. The penalties are usually just a fine for breaching the local laws, however repeated offences, or more serious issues can get you jail time. A general rule is that if you are using something as a weapon, then it is a weapon under the law. That means if you’re going around shooting strangers with a paintball gun, or threatening them with it then it is a weapon, and you will go to jail. If you are keeping it stored in your closet and taking it out to a paintball facility on the weekend, then you’re likely to never deal with the police about it. Here are the specific laws for the City of
