ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Several major retailers will pay a combined $300,000 to the state of New York for allegedly selling “imitation weapons” that are banned by law, said state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Monday.
Amazon, Kmart, Sears, Walmart and ACTA, which is based in California, allegedly sold toy guns that looked like real guns between 2012 and 2014, according to an investigation conducted by Schneiderman's office.
More than 6,400 banned toy guns were sold in New York without color markings that are required under state law, Schneiderman said. Most of the toys were sold online.
Under the settlement, the retailers will adopt New York City's law, which requires toy guns to be entirely brightly colored, for all its sales statewide. State law only requires colored markings on the sides and tip of the gun barrel.
About 65 third party sellers who sold toy guns on Amazon and Sears' website were sent cease and disist letters, Schneiderman said.
“Time and again, these retailers put profits over safety, putting children and police officers at high risk of a tragic encounter,” Schneiderman said. “Our investigation found that more than 6,000 dangerously life-like toy guns were sold to New York families in just three years, in violation of state and city laws. Today’s agreements will put an end to future sales, and ensure that families, children, and police will benefit from the full protection these critical public safety laws.”