It could be just a bandaid attempt to close a loophole.
I seem to recall some months ago there was several days of news stories about convenience stores being held up by kids/people using airsoft guns. They couldn't be charged for using a firearm was the basis of the news story.
Now that more of the airsoft are in the firearm -deemed non firearm classification, as are all of our AG's, then if you commit a crime using one then you'll be charged under the firearms act.
Other than that I have no idea what their up to