--- title: "Rep. Mullin introduces bill to classify some air guns as firearms" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-29T00:45:53.125Z" source_reported: "2026-09-29T00:20:50.000Z" updated: "2026-09-29T00:45:53.125Z" trust_score: 80 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-29T01:30:17.058216+00:00" --- # Rep. Mullin introduces bill to classify some air guns as firearms *Legislation named Garrett's Law would require background checks for high-powered BB and pellet guns.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 80 of 100, higher is better. Trust 80: multiple named sources, bill text, and two independent full reports provide corroborated details. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains rationale, includes quotes, specific figures, next steps, and clear, cohesive reporting. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Hype 30: headlines are sensational but article content remains measured and proportionate. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Rep. Kevin Mullin introduced legislation that would classify certain high-powered air guns as firearms. - The bill, called Garrett's Law, is named after Garrett Edwards, a constituent who died by suicide using an air gun. - It would require background checks for air guns firing .177 caliber pellets at 800 ft/s, .22 caliber at 500 ft/s, or .25 caliber at 450 ft/s, or any air gun firing a metallic pellet above .25 caliber. - If passed, the Attorney General would be required to publish guidance for manufacturers of these air guns to become federal firearms licensees. U.S. Representative Kevin Mullin has introduced legislation that would classify certain high-powered air guns as firearms. The bill, named Garrett's Law, is named after Garrett Edwards, a constituent who died by suicide using an air gun purchased online. The legislation aims to require background checks for BB and pellet guns that meet specific velocity and caliber thresholds. ## Disagreement on the bill's intent The Blaze reported that Democratic lawmakers are "desperate to disarm law-abiding Americans" and are "going after some toy guns." The outlet quoted Mullin stating, "If a weapon is powerful enough to kill, it should be subject to the same commonsense safety standards as any other gun." Breitbart quoted Mullin's office describing the current lack of background checks as a "loophole" and stating the bill would "close this dangerous gap." WND and The Daily Caller used headlines referencing "Ralphie" and his Red Ryder BB gun, implying the bill targets common toy guns. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention the specific velocities and calibers that would trigger the firearm classification, beyond general references to "high-powered" air guns. The requirement for the Attorney General to publish guidance for manufacturers to become federal firearms licensees was also not mentioned in any of the right-rated reports. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 100% (8) 0 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-29T01:30:17.058216+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-29T02:00:10.940Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on the bill's reclassification of air guns as firearms and the potential impact on common BB guns. The Blaze's headline stated, "Democrats don't just want to take your firearms. They want your kids' BB guns too." This outlet also quoted the March for Our Lives Foundation co-founder Jaclyn Corin saying, "Lethal weapons should be treated like lethal weapons." Breitbart highlighted that the bill would require background checks for BB and pellet gun buyers, similar to those for AR-15s and 9mm pistols. WND and The Daily Caller used headlines referencing "Ralphie" and his Red Ryder BB gun, suggesting the legislation targets common toy guns. Conservative Review echoed The Blaze's headline and framing. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 4 - mixed: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [U-S-NEWS.COM](https://u-s-news.com/politics-house-democrat-introduces-bill-to-classify-high-powered-air-guns-as-firearms-the-beltway-report) — POLITICS: House Democrat Introduces Bill to Classify High-Powered Air Guns as Firearms – The Beltway Report - [The Beltway Report](https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/09/house-democrat-introduces-bill-to-classify-high-powered-air-guns-as-firearms) — House Democrat Introduces Bill to Classify High-Powered Air Guns as Firearms - [WND](https://wnd.com/2026/09/watch-congressman-wants-make-ralphie-get-background-check) — Congressman wants to make Ralphie get a background check for his Red Ryder BB gun * WorldNetDaily * by Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller News Foundation - [The Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/28/dem-rep-wants-to-make-ralphie-get-a-background-check-for-his-red-ryder-bb-gun) — Dem Rep Wants To Make Ralphie Get A Background Check For His Red Ryder BB Gun - [The Blaze](https://theblaze.com/news/dems-dont-just-want-to-take-your-firearms-they-want-your-kids-bb-guns-too) — Democrats don't just want to take your firearms. They want your kids' BB guns too. - [Conservative Review](https://conservativereview.com/democrats-don-t-just-want-to-take-your-firearms-they-want-your-kids-bb-guns-too-2677955500.html) — Democrats don't just want to take your firearms. They want your kids' BB guns too. - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/09/28/democrat-rep-kevin-mullin-pushes-bill-to-redefine-bb-guns-as-firearms) — Democrat Rep. Kevin Mullin Pushes Bill to Redefine BB Guns as Firearms - [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/09/28/dem-rep-wants-to-make-ralphie-get-background-check-for-his-red-ryder-bb-gun) — Dem rep wants to make Ralphie get background check for his red Ryder BB gun ## Questions **What is Garrett's Law?** Garrett's Law is a proposed piece of legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Kevin Mullin. It aims to classify certain high-powered air guns as firearms, which would subject them to federal regulations, including background checks for purchasers. **Why is the bill named Garrett's Law?** The bill is named in memory of Garrett Edwards, a constituent of Rep. Mullin. Edwards died by suicide using an air gun that he had purchased online, despite being prohibited from owning a firearm. **Which air guns would be affected by this bill?** The legislation targets air guns that fire .177 caliber pellets at 800 ft/s, .22 caliber pellets at 500 ft/s, or .25 caliber pellets at 450 ft/s. It also includes any air gun firing a metallic pellet above .25 caliber. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Rep. Mullin introduces bill to classify some air guns as firearms", https://mediabias.news/politics/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-classify-some-air-guns-as-firearms