The state Attorney General’s office has placed major retailers including Walmart, which has three stores in St. Lawrence County, under a cease and desist order for selling illegal toy guns.

Walmart operates in Massena, Potsdam and Ogdensburg.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says Walmart was selling in their stores toy guns that lacked one inch of orange paint around the end of the barrel, which state law requires if the toy is black, blue, silver or aluminum.

The AG’s office says the retailer, among others, is also selling the toys online.

Some of the toy guns discovered during the investigation are advertised as “realistic looking” and “full size.” Since they lack the orange striping down both sides of the barrel as required under state law, these imitation assault rifles, shotguns, and pistols closely resemble actual weapons, and could be easily mistaken for real weapons by law enforcement and civilians, according to a prepared statement from Schneiderman’s office.

Other retailers the AG’s office says are under cease and desist for selling the illegal toys include Amazon.com, K-Mart, Sears and ToyArsenal.com.