Paintguns: Firearms vs. Toys

[Toll]

Realistically they can propel a projectile at enough velocity to kill some one. See : Riot control balls. Something comes to mind about the only difference between a tool and a wepon is intent. I mean, god help us if some one got a hold of a violent instrument that was weighted and constructed in such a way that it could have no real use outside of hurting something

[93civiccpe]

I believe whole-heartedly that it's sporting goods equipment and that maybe we should put an age-limit on being able to possess one without a parent or guardian there. That way a young teen could not have one in the car with them. Some young people may see it as an inconvenience, but it will hopefully allow police officers to stop the kids who use these for vandalizing and are giving us a bad name. Plus, I know our field would happily store your paintball gun there if you didn't have a parent to drive you back and forth.

Here's my take on it showing other sports:

Golf - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a golf club
Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a hockey stick
Baseball - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a baseball bat or a baseball
Lawn Darts - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with lawn darts
Horseshoes - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a horseshoe
Tennis - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a tennis racket
Field Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a field hockey stick

Yet none of the above has any special classification. They are sporting goods items that COULD be used to cause harm.

We really do need to stand up and NOT let them classify paintball markers as firearms. There are already enough states trying to limit/take away our rights to bear arms as it is. Shoot, in Chicago you can't even own a pistol. /Enough of that rant.

Anyways, if we allow them to classify paintball guns as firearms, then our sport is going to take a major hit. It will put a heavier burden on the younger crowd who then will have to have their parents trasport them and stay with them because of firearm laws. A lot of parents won't want the hassle which means less kids playing, and less money going into our sport.

My opinion is that maybe they should come up with special rules for transporting paintball markers. Like make it so that you must keep it in the trunk /outside the passenger compartment with the air supply not connected to it and no hopper/paintballs connected. If it was in the passenger compartment it should be locked in a case out of the reach of the driver or any underage passenger. Then it becomes a very easy judgement call for the police who see a young teens in a car late at night with a loaded and ready to fire paintball gun.

For example, say you are a police officer and it is midday and you pull over a guy who is going a little fast. You see through his back window that he has some groceries... a carton of eggs or two.. toilet paper.. etc. Okay, this guy has been grocery shopping and is driving a little faster than he should. Now say it is late at night, and you pull over a car full of young teens who happen to have a couple cartons of eggs and several rolls of toilet paper that they may be trying to conceal from your sight. You might just want to escort them home and make sure those aren't going to be used to egg & tp a house. Maybe even have a few words with the parents to make sure the kids don't go out and get in trouble.

It would be incredibly easy, PLUS, the police in most states are not allowed in your trunk without a warrent. So if someone has it in there, the police are none-the-wiser. If a police pulled over a carload of kids in the morning decked out in paintball gear with masks & etc in the car, it's obvious that these kids are going to play paintball. If you pull over a group of kids wearing regular/nicer clothing late at night with one cheap paintball gun loaded and ready to go, take it away from them.. that simple.

[Zone Drifter]

I remember reading somewhere that in a town/city in florida, to make crime decline they made it almost mandatory for everyone of age to carry a gun. Guess what happened, crime went way down. Ok, that means nothing in this topic, and that is unconfirmed info, but what would putting a ban on paintball markers do? Nothing accept save me some money, lol. But really, all good points in the discussion that i agree on, so what really needs to be done is to show people how casual the sport is compared to say, baseball. I mean, they let people carry baseball bats in the trunk to defend themself with... and unless you hit someone over the head with your marker or the nitro tank, it's most likely not going to kill them just by shooting paintballs at them.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

We have the same problem with this sport that you see every where else.

Those who will use the equipment for nefarious purposes do not care about the laws, nor will laws stop them. It doesn't work for firearms it wouldn't work for paintball.


And as much as we try to convince ourselves, I'm guilty of it, we are playing a wargame. The markers might not look like Ak47's, the play style might not fit with combat tactics, but it is the same.

Regulation is not a bad thing, when done with the sport/players in mind, it could promote safety and help community acceptance. Unfortunately I don't think any of us can name a sport/activity that has been regulated in such a way that everyone involved benefits.

I am a strong opponent of extensive and restrictive firearm laws, regardless of their constitutional legality. On the other hand I am a proponent of regulated and required education as a requirement for use and ownership of potentially harmful tool/equipment.


At this point I am not in favor of restricting playing fields to designated areas, if that was to happen I would likely pack up my stuff and move on to other hobbies. Paintball is fun but it is not the civil rights argument that many make it out to be, Paintball equipment can not really be utilized for any other purpose than running around shooting people, at least guns can be used for hunting or personal protection.

[madcrisis]

i think the inbetween comments is where the key is. They are not toys but also not firearms. However when put in the hands of a kid it can go two ways, we all know what ways they are. However that can happen with adults too. Now i am a 16y/o and i know how i am with my paintball guns, but i also know how dumb other people the same age are and where all this Kids should not be allowed without adults, blah blah blah. But lets consider this a while back there was a thread on here that two guys got in an arguement and one was threatened with a hammer. both were adults. but when u have children they may talk but rarely do they act. esepcially when the other person is bigger and older than them. There are stupid kids however there are responsible and safe kids who jsut want to play. Its not fair to say that kids shoudnt be able to play just because some are stupid and some of the complaints you have against kids can be said for alot of other adults. Also whats more dangerous a boat or a pb gun. You are alowed to drive a boat at 16 in NJ and get your provisional license to drive a car at 17. Not being able to play a sport when youre young is kind of redundant. When youre young you have so much more time, you dont have to worry about work or not having the money t pay the bills. That is my view on the outlawing and kids playing.

[Chaos_Theory!]

Realistically they can propel a projectile at enough velocity to kill some one. See : Riot control balls.

We play paintball, not riot control.

As some people have mentioned just about every other sport out there has as much if not more potential of causing a person injury than paintball. Just because we shoot a paint filled ball rather than hitting a larger and heavier object doesnt make our sport more dangerous.

[Old School 626]

1) you can not legislate ethics or morality - the drive-by-homeless-pelting crowd will still be there no matter how many laws you pass. I wish they'd use baseballs so maybe that sport would get banned and we can get more paintball on TV.

2) Playing in non-designated areas: Think about this from a public safety aspect, if you are playing in a park where people will be riding horses or having a picnic, it's not a good idea. On the other hand if you are a "good" distance from any public road/path etc. similar to the requirements of discharging a firearm, go wild, have a ball and remember to take your trash with you, leave it cleaner than when you came.

[MechWarrior]

Golf - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a golf club
Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a hockey stick
Baseball - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a baseball bat or a baseball
Lawn Darts - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with lawn darts
Horseshoes - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a horseshoe
Tennis - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a tennis racket
Field Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a field hockey stick

Great Point! Everyone needs to keep in mind there is a thin line when starting to ban things or putting restrictions on them. I think it is very obvious that a paintball/paintball gun will not kill/harm anyone over many other sporting good items (ie: Baseball and Bat). I know as a baseball player for many years that I have had way more injuries playing it than in my 15 years of paintball.

So the question is; are we going to start banning kids from playing anything that could harm them? Also, are we going to need parent supervision at every pickup football or baseball game that the kids play in the parks now? I think not. The answer is in how these kids are being parented. I would have never gone driving around shooting people w/ a paintball gun and neither would my children. I sure hope the same for those of you that have them as well.

[Maghog]

Is there any state that has actually classified a paintgun as a firearm? I know a few tried.

madcrisis- as a 16 year old responsible player, would you have been willing to take a one or two hour class promoting safety in paintball, or would that have turned you and your friends off right from the start?

Great responses, with an obvious theme. Calling paintguns 'firearms' would all but destroy the sport, but at the same time the desire for more awareness is there.

I like the concept of sporting goods equipment, but can we get that to sell when it comes down to legislation?

[OneUp]

So what are they?

sports equipment.

not a toy; sold to kids; abused daily.

[robnix]

Here's my take on it showing other sports:

Golf - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a golf club
Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a hockey stick
Baseball - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a baseball bat or a baseball
Lawn Darts - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with lawn darts
Horseshoes - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a horseshoe
Tennis - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a tennis racket
Field Hockey - I could easily hurt/maim/kill you with a field hockey stick

Yet none of the above has any special classification. They are sporting goods items that COULD be used to cause harm.

Yet none of these sports has a primary objective that just happens to be shooting people.

[Chaos_Theory!]

Yet none of these sports has a primary objective that just happens to be shooting people.

That really doesnt matter, at all.

[robnix]

That really doesnt matter, at all.

Sure it does, the primary action of the other objects listed doesn't involve striking another person.

[robnix]

I remember reading somewhere that in a town/city in florida, to make crime decline they made it almost mandatory for everyone of age to carry a gun. Guess what happened, crime went way down.

You're thinking of Kennesaw, GA.

[Chaos_Theory!]

So what, compare the items between different sports that do hit people (including other people) and tell me paintballs cause more damage or its a more dangerous sport.