If anyone is interested I emailed Senator Shirley K. Turner about her paintball ban legislation. Here is her reply:
Thank you for your E-mail regarding my proposed legislation to address
the
> issue of paintball gun misuse in New Jersey. I appreciate hearing your
> opinion regarding this matter.
>
> Unfortunately, it appears that not all parents are taking the steps to
> ensure that paintball guns are used in the proper manner. The legislation
> will not preclude the use of such toys by children, but will ensure that a
> parent is present at the time a sale is made. While a parent cannot
monitor
> all of the toys his or her child has and is taking out of the house, with
> the parent being aware of the purchase of a paintball gun, the chances are
> greater that the gun will be used safely and properly. There are no
> enforcement laws regarding this, and I believe it is necessary to address.
>
> Regarding the crime of discharging a paintball gun outside of a
designated
> paintball range, I actually was not aware that this sport is played in
one's
> backyard. The legislation is only currently in draft form and will not be
> officially introduced until the fall. Please know that your concerns are
> acknowledged, and the final draft of my bill will be fair to our
> safety-minded and law-abiding players.
>
> Your input is always valued, and I hope that you will feel free to
contact
> me at any time.
>
> Sincerely,
>>
>
> Shirley K. Turner
> Senator - 15th District
Here is her reply to my request to use her statement online:
In response to your recent E-mail, please know that you have my permission
to post my reply to one of the forums. I was disturbed to read a recent
column in the Trentonian where the newspaper totally misrepresented of my
bill. Although the newspaper did print a correction, people are still under
the impression that I am attempting to ban the sale of paintball guns, which
is not the case at all. Additionally, playing in one's backyard is
different from attacking someone on a public street, as was the man who lost
his eye due to the attack. He was shot twenty times at close range and did
not have the protection of appropriate gear.
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
Sincerely,
Shirley K. Turner
Senator - 15th District
Thank you for your E-mail regarding my proposed legislation to address
the
> issue of paintball gun misuse in New Jersey. I appreciate hearing your
> opinion regarding this matter.
>
> Unfortunately, it appears that not all parents are taking the steps to
> ensure that paintball guns are used in the proper manner. The legislation
> will not preclude the use of such toys by children, but will ensure that a
> parent is present at the time a sale is made. While a parent cannot
monitor
> all of the toys his or her child has and is taking out of the house, with
> the parent being aware of the purchase of a paintball gun, the chances are
> greater that the gun will be used safely and properly. There are no
> enforcement laws regarding this, and I believe it is necessary to address.
>
> Regarding the crime of discharging a paintball gun outside of a
designated
> paintball range, I actually was not aware that this sport is played in
one's
> backyard. The legislation is only currently in draft form and will not be
> officially introduced until the fall. Please know that your concerns are
> acknowledged, and the final draft of my bill will be fair to our
> safety-minded and law-abiding players.
>
> Your input is always valued, and I hope that you will feel free to
contact
> me at any time.
>
> Sincerely,
>>
>
> Shirley K. Turner
> Senator - 15th District
Here is her reply to my request to use her statement online:
In response to your recent E-mail, please know that you have my permission
to post my reply to one of the forums. I was disturbed to read a recent
column in the Trentonian where the newspaper totally misrepresented of my
bill. Although the newspaper did print a correction, people are still under
the impression that I am attempting to ban the sale of paintball guns, which
is not the case at all. Additionally, playing in one's backyard is
different from attacking someone on a public street, as was the man who lost
his eye due to the attack. He was shot twenty times at close range and did
not have the protection of appropriate gear.
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
Sincerely,
Shirley K. Turner
Senator - 15th District
Comment