Paintball article in the Chicago Tribune

[Gunga]

This article was in the Tuesday 2/10/04 issue of the Chicago Tribune. Unfortunately, it's about some idiots with paintball guns. However, the article isn't 'paintball is evil'.

Also, there's some info about the local laws in regards to paintball guns, for us Chicago area people.

To save you guys the trouble of creating an account at the Tribune, here's the article:

Paintball Weapons Take a Hit
Lake Forest law now bans guns

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

Doesn't seem all to outrageous it would be nice however, if they amended that law, to make it legal to shoot on provate property.

[raehl]

Bah.

I say give them the state record. It's disappointing that law enforcement seems unwilling to treat misuse of paintball markers with the seriousness required. If you're firing a marker somewhere you shouldn't, they *SHOULD* haul you in front of the state court.

- Chris

[shartley]

Seems like people are actually thinking this time. I found the article and opinions stated to be fairly reasonable and balanced overall. It also sounds like there will be more discussions on the matter and I would wager that in the end it will be settled in a manner that is not detrimental to the sport or its players.

[Garrum]

This is the same song I hear about my firearms, just a different tune.

Individual X and individual Y both have item Z. Individual X is reckless and dangerous with item Z, but individual Y is careful and safe. The government says," This person used this item irresponsibly. So the obvious course of action is to ban this item, because as we all know, IT IS NEVER THE PERSON'S FAULT! THE ITEM IS TO BLAME FOR THIS FIASCO!"

The overwhelming desire to offload the blame of an act onto anything, even and espescially inanimate objects, is ruining this country.

[shartley]

Re: Bah.

Originally posted by raehl
I say give them the state record. It's disappointing that law enforcement seems unwilling to treat misuse of paintball markers with the seriousness required. If you're firing a marker somewhere you shouldn't, they *SHOULD* haul you in front of the state court.

- Chris

[penguinpunk555]

I think this is a good article. If used on fields then good. Thats what we realy want guys.

[raehl]

Originally posted by Garrum
IT IS NEVER THE PERSON'S FAULT! THE ITEM IS TO BLAME FOR THIS FIASCO!

Actually, they're both to blame. People can't be shot if there are no guns to shoot them with. The question is, is having the item around worth the negative impact? The biggest non-natural killer of people in this country is automobile accidents. But, nobody would seriously suggest getting rid of cars to keep people from dying.

Is having paintball markers worth a few people losing their eyes each year? When 10 million people play every year, most of us would say 30-60 single eye injuries are worth it, especially when the majority of the injuries are due to people's own stupidity.

Are handguns worth thousands of people getting killed every year... by other people? Gun owners seem to think so, but there are plenty of people who would disagree.


Anyway, real point of this post is that I hate it when people try and pair paintball with guns. One has zilch to do with the other, and it's especially bad for us when pro-gun folks say "This argument is just as dumb for paintball as it is for guns!" because there are *MANY MANY* people out there who think it's a *GOOD* argument to get rid of guns.

That STILL doesn't make it a good argument to get rid of paintball markers, so do us a favor and please don't tell people it's the same argument. It isn't.


- Chris

[raehl]

Re: Re: Bah.

Originally posted by shartley

I'm talking about whoever it is that's breaking the process. Could be the police, could be the DA, whoever. It's not one or the other in all situations.

- Chris

[ubooze]

Its situations like this that make me uneasy. I live in the Northern suburbs of Chicago, between Niles and Glenview which is 'technically' called Glenview Unincorparated. I am glad to hear this kind of law is passed, the people weren't using the guns how they were supposed to be used. But what does frighten me is that other cities may think an all out ban would be the right thing, and that sales would no longer be allowed, and even shooting on private property would be wrong. I know Niles and Morton Grove already have such laws. Its not fun to have to worry your butt off when you shoot in your backyard. I have no clue what law applies to me, supposedly its just general Cook County law.

Law-makers ought to take a good example of this situation. Ensure and enforce that paintball guns are used in the right area, that is, NOT in public. Privatre property or the feild is the only place your gun ought to leave its bag.

[Garrum]

Is having paintball markers worth a few people losing their eyes each year? When 10 million people play every year, most of us would say 30-60 single eye injuries are worth it, especially when the majority of the injuries are due to people's own stupidity.

Are handguns worth thousands of people getting killed every year... by other people? Gun owners seem to think so, but there are plenty of people who would disagree.

Lets see, we have ~30,000 deaths a year from firearms, including suicides, give or take 1000, and between 1.5 and 2.5 million people who use firearms in defense of themselves or others. Now, should we just throw those 1.5 to 2.5 million people to the wolves to save those 30,000?

Anyway, real point of this post is that I hate it when people try and pair paintball with guns. One has zilch to do with the other, and it's especially bad for us when pro-gun folks say "This argument is just as dumb for paintball as it is for guns!" because there are *MANY MANY* people out there who think it's a *GOOD* argument to get rid of guns.

That STILL doesn't make it a good argument to get rid of paintball markers, so do us a favor and please don't tell people it's the same argument. It isn't.

The same argument of 'if they can't get it, they can't use it' is the exact same argument being used in both the case of firearms and paintball guns. Both arguments ignore the positive benefits and uses of the item in question, and both arguments ignore the person's role in any misconduct using the item. Instead of punishing the bad person alone, they ban the item, punishing everyone.

Raehl, maybe I am misreading your post, but you sound like you are one of those 'many many' people who want to ban guns. Just remember, if you sell us out, we WILL sell you out after they ban our guns. We are in the same boat, whether you acknowledge that or not.

[bleachit]

"It's one thing when paintball guns are used in a designated range with goggles and proper equipment or in someone's back yard versus being hit unexpectedly," Hosking said. "There is a time and place."

:) distinguishing between actually play and morons running around. works for me.

[raehl]

Originally posted by Garrum

Raehl, maybe I am misreading your post, but you sound like you are one of those 'many many' people who want to ban guns. Just remember, if you sell us out, we WILL sell you out after they ban our guns. We are in the same boat, whether you acknowledge that or not.

No, I'm one of those people who want zero association between paintball markers and guns. We're not in the same boat at all.

There is zero correlation between sporting equipment that can hurt people when misused (hell, more people are seriously hurt by golf balls than paintball markers) and something that kills 30,000 people per year. IT IS NOT THE SAME THING. The last thing paintball needs is people who are hostile to guns thinking paintball markers should be in that same group.

- Chris

[Garrum]

Do you honestly think that they will stop if they get our firearms? Do you honestly think they will even think twice before banning a toy that looks like a gun, if they are willing to ban a legitimate tool that saves over a million lives a year? To them your paintball GUN is just as evil as my Glock 23 and my Remington 700. It represents combat and fighting. They don't care if it is fun to play paintball and that you handle your paintball gun properly, just like they don't care if I can't defend myself against a criminal trying to kill me. You are in their way of trying to make society what they want. And if we get beaten, then you are simply next in line.

[raehl]

Well....

If gun nuts like you stop trying to convince anti-gun nuts like "them" that paintball markers have anything to do with guns, yeah, I'd expect that they'd leave us alone.

- Chris