Retailers Pledging to Stop Selling Realistic-Looking Guns

Several major retailers are pledging that they will stop selling "realistic-looking" guns as part of a settlement reached with the State of New York.

Sears, Walmart, and Amazon have, according to NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, sold thousands of guns that resemble real firearms between 2012 and 2014 in violation of state law.

According to a written release from Schneiderman's office, cease and desist letters have also been sent to more than 65 second- and third-party sellers who sold the toys in New York through Amazon and Sears.com.

The Attorney General's Office says,

"The agreement with Walmart requires the company to pay $225,000 in fines to New York State. Kmart, Amazon.com, Sears and ACTA will pay more than $84,000 in combined fines and costs. The Amazon settlement includes a civil penalty of $7,250 – $50 per online sale – which is paid to New York State, plus $2,000 in costs to the Attorney General’s Office. Kmart has agreed to pay a $64,550 penalty – $50 per online sale and $500 for each in-store sale. It also will pay $2,000 in costs. The settlement with ACTA includes a civil penalty of $7,000, and $2,000 in costs to the Attorney General’s Office."

A total of 6,429 illegal toy guns were sent by the retailers over the course of three years; 5,017 of which were sold via Amazon.com.

With the exception of Kmart, most of the retailers kept guns off of shelves at their physical locations, and only sold them online.

The deal settled upon by the AG and the retailers requires that toys sold online to any customer within New York State must now adhere to New York City's standards governing gun sales. New York City's law is widely viewed as one of the most restrictive, requiring that any toy gun sold within the five boroughs must be brightly colored. Current New York law requires markings only along the sides and tip of the gun.

The new agreement requires that all toy guns now sold throughout the state are brightly colored.