An air gun releasing two joules energy can kill a bird, five joules energy can kill a monkey and 20 joules can kill a human being.

A one-and-a-half decades’ struggle of animal rights activists has finally yielded result as the government has ordered that sale of air guns will be only through a licenced arms dealer. The activists had been campaigning against unrestricted sale of air guns as they claimed that these weapons were being used against birds, squirrels or dogs and a joint petition was made to the government for restricting their sale.

The move to restrict sale of pellet or air guns was made after a sustained campaign by animal rights activists and on the recommendation of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), sale and transfer of pellet guns can only be made through a registered arms dealer.The fresh notification said that “sale, transfer and keeping for sale or transfer of all types of air weapons including air rifles, air guns and paintball markers or guns irrespective of the muzzle energy or calibre or bore shall be only through the authorised arms and ammunition dealers or the air weapon dealers licenced under these rules”

An air gun having muzzle energy less than 20 joules can only be sold against an identification and residence proof of the buyer and such a gun with muzzle energy of more than 20 joules will be sold only through an authorised arms and ammunition dealer to a valid arms licence.

Hence, with respect to the above information "The AIR GUNS AND THE PELLET RIFLES SHOULD BE RESTRICTED FOR GENERAL KEEPING and THE LICENCING TO BE INTRODUCE IN THIS UNION TERRITORY - ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS."