Total paintball ban in Baltimore

**FalconGuy016** · 10-06-2002, 08:11 PM

Spread this to other forums if you can

**magman007** · 10-06-2002, 08:17 PM

ok, the date happened already for the hearing, what can we do now? what was the rulling?

**than205** · 10-06-2002, 08:33 PM

For some reading:

Complete Paintball Ban Proposed in Maryland - PbNation

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65918

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And a page to keep up on.

Paintball Leagues | PBLeagues.com

http://www.paintball-players.org/

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**Blazingace** · 10-06-2002, 08:53 PM

The liberals strike again!!!!!! Soon all your super soakers will be illegal too. What a crock of poop. The best way they know how to deal with an issue is to ban it. Of course they know better than you. They want to protect you from the evil paintball guns. You are of course not responsible enough to own a paintball gun, let alone a real gun.

**LittMag** · 10-06-2002, 08:57 PM

From http://www.paintball-players.org/
"APPA's Phillip Craig was at the hearing in Baltimore today. He reports that many people came out against the bills while none came out to support it. The committee seemed set to revise the legistlation to avoid adversely affecting legitimate paintball players, so score one for Paintball today. Phillip should have a complete report in the next day or two - watch for it here."

But I don't see any report.

**Hemlock86** · 10-06-2002, 09:47 PM

Paintball guns should be illegal... Look at all the deaths, drug addictions and crime it causes. Every paintballer I know usually sells smack on the side to fuel their speedball habits. When I cant get my dose of PB for the day, I take my aggressions out by beating up old ladies at the grocery store. Paintball is the devil! Roar!!

**than205** · 10-06-2002, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by Blazingace
The liberals strike again!!!!!! Soon all your super soakers will be illegal too. What a crock of poop. The best way they know how to deal with an issue is to ban it. Of course they know better than you. They want to protect you from the evil paintball guns. You are of course not responsible enough to own a paintball gun, let alone a real gun.

They are/were trying to preempt a potential problem. Is the legislation overboard, likely. It is our responsability to make things clear and try to ensure that others don't ruin it for us, again likely. Will throwing your hands in the air and blaming a political group for the acts of one over-zealous person accomplish anything but more ignorance?

I believe it is one person who is/was leading the legislation (if you can call it that). Whether its gone anywhere in the last few months I'm not sure. That would be a great question for raehl.

Here's what we can do in the meantime. (I have said this before)

Lead by example.

1. Train the newbies you meet. Explain to them that all the safety you can. ie... don't shoot random stuff, signs etc.

2. Play fair and have fun.

3. Don't whine or cry or be a baby when things don't go your way in a game. Someones parent may be watching. Or better yet a civil servant who is trying to get grasp on our sport.

4. Police the wrong things you see yourself. Don't get yourself hurt but if you see or hear of someone being stupid with paintball gear use your peer pressure.

5. When asked by someone "What's paintball like?". Take your time and answer them.

No, it's not military training.
Yes, it is very safe.
Is it for everyone? No, not necessarily.
I play for reason "x".

Most people who don't know are just that, ignorant of the scene. And being arrogant to these people doesn't help things, it establishes prejudices.

I think some of the coolest things I've heard of is guys in high school asking for info for thier paintball reports.

Let me throw this at you. The high school where my son goes had a problem with smoking on the grounds and in the bathrooms. The faculty found over the years that trying to curb this is a daunting if not futile effort. So they went to the kids and said "You have a voice in this." Now the kids take care of this issue. By telling the smokers to smoke somewhere else and not in their bathroom.

Anyway, be involved where you can. You do have a voice in this.

**Blazingace** · 10-06-2002, 10:42 PM

Naturally I agree with you. I like in Jersey and I know alittle about how things like this work. I live about 5 miles for a large Regional airport. It has 2 Jetways in a very small terminal. It services mostly Corporate and General aviation aircraft. There have been a number of carriers that tried to service this airport in the past. None of the majors but startup airlines flying to a few cities in the northeast.

Not to long ago the county decided that it would like to renovate and expand the aging terminal. It atracted the attention of a major airline (Southwest). One thing you must understand is this airport has been there for over 70 years. A very small group of vocal "People" that just moved into new, very expensive homes off the departure end of the runway started making trouble. They didn't want the airport to grow, infact they wanted to make it a stripmall. They spread lies about the airport, how low the planes are when they land, how much noise the little Cessnas and Pipers make. They even went so far as to go to the schools and lie about the many "toxins" that airplane engines spew out. They say they simply don't want expansion when in their ultimatum that they passed out they wanted all flight training to stop, all cargo to stop and a severe restriction on corporate air taxi. This has been going on for almost 2 years now. When will it stop?

I understand that they want to be proactive about the miss use of PB guns. What I don't understand is why the concern over something so benign? Lets comcentrate on things like Drugs in the schools, Teen pregnancy, Rape Murder, poverty, hunger.....should I go on? These people may think that they have everyones best interests at heart, but I don't think they are focused on whats important. I know that there are a lot of people that miss use paintball guns, real guns, knives, cars, plastic spoons. You see what I am getting at? Banning these items will not make their miss use any less frequent. There are already laws on the books that support punishment for using these things in a manner they were not intended for, why ban them? Is there not already a law against assault? Vandalism?

You know this has come out all wrong, I am sorry. I am surrounded by people who would ban almost everything here in Jersey and I get alittle edgy when it comes to that kind of stuff. It always seems that all the things that I like are wrong and I don't think that is right. Your logic is sound and your methods are sure.

**aaron_mag** · 10-06-2002, 11:00 PM

Yeah I agree with than205.

Blazingace....you sound really paranoid when you talk about "the liberals striking again". Then you go into this airport thing. I don't care if you are "liberal" or "conservative" (whatever those labels mean) people are going to freak out if they think that there are going to be jets over their house. Not only is it where you live but it is a major investment for people. If they feel the value is going to drop significantly because of expansions that really can really make people mad.

We have the same thing going on in Portland. The largest research hospital in Oregon wants to put in a tram system. The people that have the tram going over their house really don't like it. Is it a good thing for the community or a bad thing in the long run? Who knows.....but I can definetely understand why they are freaking out. It is their home and they have a right to fight for it. My point is you label one group as the "them". Before war is declared be willing to try some diplomacy first.

**hitech** · 10-07-2002, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by aaron_mag
... people are going to freak out if they think that there are going to be jets over their house.

Then WHY did they buy a house at the end of an airport runway?

**einhander619** · 10-07-2002, 12:13 PM

Oh man, Baltimore too has fallen to the kind of psuedo-intellectual bleeding-heart liberal drivel that is has ruined this country. It seems that we, the paintball community, are a favorite target of the soy milk and pro-choice crowd. Why? Are we that hard to understand? And why is it so hard to rally support? I have an idea that will turn the tides of the battle in Baltimore. We need to drop the the D-bomb. DISCRIMINATION. Maybe we should tell them we're all black, gay or poor or something, that way we could turn them against themselves! Really though, why can't they just leave us the hell alone?

Note:

If this has offended you, email me and I will provide you with the definition of sarcasm.

**Evil Bob** · 10-07-2002, 12:15 PM

This is right up there with Greece banning all electronic games (computer, arcade, home consoles, all electronic games period) because of fear that they are being used for gambling.

If you are visiting Greece, the travel authority advises that you don't take your cell phone if it has a game on it. Immigration control has been given instructions to confiscate and fine/imprision anyone bringing electronic game media of any type into Greece.

Its a shame there is so much ignorance today in the information age. Unfortunately, it's usually perpetrated by those who are in positions of power and authority.

"There is nothing more dangerous then ignorance in action." - Aristotle

How prophetic and ironic...

-Evil Bob

**aaron_mag** · 10-07-2002, 12:23 PM

Didn't want to start a debate on this but if you read his description he says it was a small airport that they are thinking of expanding. There is a difference between small planes flying over and a commercial jet zooming over head.

That is all besides the point. He wanted to dismiss the people behind the ban as those darn liberals. Then he goes off onto this tangent about an airport. My point is that not everything is that simple.

**hitech** · 10-07-2002, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by aaron_mag
My point is that not everything is that simple.

I'll give you that. And I don't want to hijack his thread so...I'll stop.

Total paintball ban in Baltimore

Total paintball ban in Baltimore

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