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Comment by avar | Hacker News Reader

> There is no way plastic BBs are considered ammunition.

"Under Chinese law, one should be given a criminal penalty if he or she illegally owns more than 20 military bullets, 1,000 pellets for air guns or 200 non-military bullets." -- https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/1903040562/

For more on how strict Chinese gun laws are see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_in_airsoft#China

> But if China does they better stop the illegal export of BBs and airsoft guns to the USA[...]

Manufacturing with an export license isn't the same as private ownership. You may be interested to know that the US exports a lot of arms you're not allowed to buy privately.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_in_airsoft#China

"In People's Republic of China, despite the common belief that airsoft is outright banned, the official stance on airsoft is that it is technically just "tightly controlled".[13] However, the control standards are so strict and the punishments are so heavy-handed, that involvement in the sport (regarded as "wargame" or "live action CS") is considered too impractical for common individuals in Mainland China."

"Law enforcement is also highly arbitrary, and many of the merchandises confiscated are actually either non-functional props or well below the replica limit"

> Law enforcement is also highly arbitrary

Sounds like Chinese law in a nutshell. Laws matter, when the CCP cares, sometimes, for some people.

I'm curious as to why this is being downvoted; do people think it's untrue? Seems like it's very useful contextual information

I think there's a debate to be had around whether or not the plastic BBs are considered pellets for air guns.

I have a feeling the law is referring to the metal air rifle pellets, but I don't know that for a fact.

Typically, pellets for air rifles are made of metal: https://www.pyramydair.com/images/PY-P-1144_JSB-Diabolo-Exac...

"Airsoft" pellets are plastic beads: https://sc01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1AVsePVXXXXaQXpXX760XFXXXN/Air...

> 1,000 pellets for air guns

Airgun pellets are not BBs. BBs are small lightweight plastic spheres. Airgun pellets are ammunition for airguns, they are usually moulded lead or a lead free alloy. Some pellets may be metal ball bearings, but usually that are shaped with a round or bullet like head and a flange at the back.

Search AliExpress.com. There are loads of sellers of plastic BBs. I doubt they are licensed. But there is notably no airgun pellets for sale!

BBs are metallic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BB_gun

Airsoft is plastic. The goal is to shoot your friends with it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airsoft

Regardless of BBs vs airsoft, the article's tagline specifically states that whatever he was carrying is nonmetallic.

Yes I was talking within the context of the article and the parent I was replying to. Google airsoft BBs, and search aliexpress. The term BB is frequently used by manufacturers to refer to plastic BBs, at least within China and Taiwan.

Source: a friend is a major importer into the USA.

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