Attorney General Letitia James has issued a warning to New York businesses and online retailers to avoid selling realistic-looking toy guns as Halloween approaches, citing state laws that ban the sale of such imitation firearms. New York law mandates that toy guns must be brightly colored or fully translucent to prevent them from being mistaken for real weapons, a requirement aimed at minimizing safety risks to the public.
Attorney General James highlighted that realistic toy guns have contributed to tragic incidents in the past, saying these items pose a serious threat by potentially escalating dangerous situations. “Toy guns sold in New York should look exactly like a toy,” she said in a statement. “Retailers selling realistic-looking toy guns as part of a costume are not making Halloween fun; they are violating the law.” James urged parents to keep an eye out for potentially realistic-looking toy guns and called on consumers to report any sightings of illegal sales to her office.
New York’s General Business Law prohibits the sale of toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver, or aluminum-colored, or that otherwise resemble real firearms. Retailers found in violation of this law may face fines of up to $1,000 per instance.
The attorney general’s office encourages consumers who encounter realistic-looking toy guns, either in stores or available for shipping to New York, to submit a report by filing an online complaint.
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