City council vs. Paintball

[beam]

Here is an article that was on the front page of a local newspaper on Tuesday.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/metro2001/020326paintball.html

I know these guys and they have been trying to have a tourny since 1999. They give the sport a good name. They handle themselves very well at the City Council meetings and they don't turn it into a huge argument. They still have tournies at their field, but they would really like to have an indoor in December.

Anyway, I just wanted to post this for you guys to see. There really isn't anything that we can do right now. However, if they do get a variance, you can all come to Iowa and play in this tourny.

[AllAmericanMag]

Way cool man!

But things like this still cheese me off...
"Paintball opponents Scott Jordan and Deborah Berry, who believe the sport promotes violence,"

[MikeCouves]

That's pretty cool. I agree AllAmerican, that's stupid how some people have such a strong opinion on something, yet they have never seen it done or tried it themselves.

[raehl]

Sounds like those coucil members could use some information.

- Chris

[Ov3rmind]

Scott Jordan:
"People don't understand it," he said. "They're going to be shooting them at other things [besides other players during a game]."

That goes to show how ignorant these people actually get. It seems like the two big areas of concern are vandalism and that paintball promotes violence. The good thing is, it also seems like the town is in favor of paintball. You just need to get other PBers to write letters to the paper and earn the town's trust (Whenever a PB crime is committed, highly disapprove of it, and make your opinion heard), and the argument should be pretty easy to win (especially since most of the town is in your favor already).

I was reading other related stories of this in that paper, and that Scott Jordan guy really scares me. Even though presented with clear facts, his ignorance still pushes him against paintball. It is also strange how he even got into his position, I'd think it'd require more knowledge to get into that kind of job. And if you read other related articles, the city later goes in favor of banning the event and putting even more laws upon paintball. As a paintballer, I see Jordan as a real threat to our sport guys. You know what to do: even though it may not change his mind, I think I'm going to bombard him with e-mails telling him how screwed up his facts and thought processes are.

[beam]

Although I admire your enthusiasm, I don't think the right thing to do at this time would be to bombard him with emails.

Like I said before, the local guys: Dennis and Andy are doing a great job in this. They are pursuing the appropriate channels in this.

That is one of the reasons why I wanted to post this. To show how these guys are handling this situation.

An excerpt from the article in reference to vandalism being done:

Warrior Paintball's Andrew Lusson said serious paintball players don't condone that sort of activity, which gives a black eye to the sport.

"Anybody can go to Wal-Mart and buy a paintball marker and do whatever they want with it," he said.

[epterry]

shartly sould write them a long letter lol

[Hexis]

Cool, I could prob make that. It's pretty close to Minneapolis, less than a day's drive.

[beam]

[shartley]

Like I always say... Laws can bind you, or they can set you free..... use the system!

[beam]

Well said Shartley. Guys, imagine if 2 years ago, these guys sent out mass emails, petitions, door flyers, and generally carried on about it. It would've only accomplished one thing...it would have made the Paintball Community look like a bunch of desparate hooligans. By being patient and restrained about this matter, I believe that these guys have done the Paintball Community a huge service. Now, eventhough a few board members still don't like paintball, at least the General Public isn't turned against it. People will be curious about what this new sport is!

On a side note....and I forgot this fact up until now...one of the main arguments against having a PB tourny in this location is that some people feel it promotes violence. The funny thing about that is that last year this got voted down, and about 2 weeks after the vote, they had an Ultimate Fighting event in that SAME building!!!!! UGH!

Anyways, as the tourny date nears (it's in Dec) I will be posting much more about it if you guys are interested.

Tom-- Maybe an AGD booth? I can get you contact info. if that would be something you would be interested in.

[raehl]

I disagree.

Petitions and other actions have their place. What if 2 years ago the field had organized a group of voters to come to the meeting to tell the council members off? If your constituents tell you to do something, you do it, esp. in locla government where a hundred could easily make the difference between being elected and not.

- Chris

[rjvemt1]

i agreee with reahl, you haul a bus load of registered voters into a town meeting and all the sudden 'council memebers' become 'public servants'.

[cphilip]

Oh well I don't know if Chris is promoting mass meeting antics but letting your representative know how you want to be represented is the way the whole representative form of government works. And a good representative does poll his people to find out. But they need to be the people that are "represented" that do the informing. Especially in these local matters. And there are indeed many ways to do that as he points out. My guess is that the local Paintball Promoter did just that. And it worked.

[shartley]

disagree.
Petitions and other actions have their place. What if 2 years ago the field had organized a group of voters to come to the meeting to tell the council members off? If your constituents tell you to do something, you do it, esp. in locla government where a hundred could easily make the difference between being elected and not.

- Chris

Oh well I don't know if Chris is promoting mass meeting antics but letting your representative know how you want to be represented is the way the whole representative form of government works.