We seek to stop the newly proposed Maryland House Bill 879 and Maryland Senate Bill 742 for the following reasons: 

1. These new proposed laws would make criminals out of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens, just for owning what are essentially "toy" replicas that shoot plastic BBs.  
2. These new proposed laws would make criminals out of hundreds of businesses, including major retailers such as Wal-mart and sporting goods stores, as well as small businesses that cater specifically to the airsoft community.  
3. These new laws will have little to no impact on the actual safety of the people that it is intended to protect. Criminals, by nature, break the law. They could use these new proposed laws to their advantage by painting their real firearms to the bright colors proposed by HB879 and SB742.
4. Airsoft is a popular recreational sport and hobby, enjoyed by thousands of citizens in the state of Maryland which encourages participants to exercise, use critical thinking, teamwork, responsibility and be honorable.  
5. Airsoft is used by current and former military and law enforcement officials as both training and recreation.
6. Airsoft has been found to be therapeutic to former military personnel, especially those that suffer from PTSD.  
7. Many airsoft related business across the state of Maryland work with various charitable organizations to donate money, time, goods and services.
8. If passed, these bills would force many small business to close and for these business owners to give up something that they've worked tirelessly to grow. It would force many of these hard working business owners to lose their only source of income without other viable options.

Please consider the above listed reasons as well as other implications of these bills and vote NO on Maryland House Bill 879 and Maryland Senate Bill 742.

Thank you for your support!