Existing law provides that the Legislature occupies the whole field of regulation of the manufacture, sale, or possession of imitation firearms, as defined, and that those provisions shall preempt and be exclusive of all regulations relating to the manufacture, sale, or possession of imitation firearms, including regulations governing the manufacture, sale, or possession of BB devices and air rifles, as specified. Existing law defines “imitation firearm” as any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm.

This bill would provide an exception to those provisions by authorizing the County of Los Angeles, or any city within the County of Los Angeles, to enact and enforce an ordinance or resolution that is more restrictive than state law regulating the manufacture, sale, possession, or use of any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm and that expels a projectile that is no more than 16 millimeters in diameter.