General

[mike31c]

please read the ENTIRE bill before anyone else start screaming wolf again -->

except as permitted by sections 11-47-63 and 11-47-64.

11-47-64. Use of paintball guns. -- (a) Paintball guns shall only be used in areas designated for recreational paintball gun use.

[Brewtt]

Originally Posted by mike31c

please read the ENTIRE bill before anyone else start screaming wolf again -->

except as permitted by sections 11-47-63 and 11-47-64.

11-47-64. Use of paintball guns. -- (a) Paintball guns shall only be used in areas designated for recreational paintball gun use.

I definitely scream wolf. Looks pretty crappy to me.

This means NO MORE outlaw ball/guerrilla ball/paintball on public use land. Pay/insured fields ONLY.

That really sucks. All complaints deemed valid. Carry on.

[sniper97]

Agreed! It would make more sense to ban cigarettes since they led to cancer or beer since you could kill someone while driving drunk.

Maybe we should outlaw cars....

I am glad I do not live in R.I.

The sad part is that there is no longer a Federal ban on assult rifles...but lets ban paintball markers.

Knee jerk reaction.....what has been goning on in RI lately?

[PolarMonkey]

Originally Posted by sniper97

The sad part is that there is no longer a Federal ban on assult rifles...but lets ban paintball markers.

Knee jerk reaction.....what has been goning on in RI lately?

That assault rifle ban was a silly knee jerk reaction too. In general, bans and regulating common sense like this are pretty silly ways for our legislators to be spending their time, especially when there are plenty of real issues out there being ignored. "Feel good" legislation that panders to irrational fears never accomplishes anything of real substance anyway (unless you are a politician seeking to further your career by it).

[Listessa]

Originally Posted by mike31c

please read the ENTIRE bill before anyone else start screaming wolf again -->

except as permitted by sections 11-47-63 and 11-47-64.

11-47-64. Use of paintball guns. -- (a) Paintball guns shall only be used in areas designated for recreational paintball gun use.

I was looking at it as more of an issue for those of us who don't bother packing the trunk of the car, and have things gently tucked into the back seat or the back footwell of the car. I find they tend to stay put better there. I can eaisly see myself pulling off to the side of the road in Mass or something and repacking the car before entering RI for all of the ten minutes it takes to travel across it.

Then again, I never really go to RI for paintball or otherwise.

[Morgenstern]

Originally Posted by PolarMonkey

Thats a silly reason for passing laws though, restricting everyone because there are a few stupid people out there doesn't make too much sense IMO. Restrict/punish/educate the stupid people and leave the people with common sense alone!

So true--it makes me hopping mad we can't get fireworks here in NY because of twisted logic.

[Mstrtal]

What do you expect from a state with a law still onits books ( and little known and ignored if it is) that pretty much states that any woman who becomes engaged to be married must refer to her husband to be as Master until her wedding night.

Then agian I am desended from the guy who founded the colony at RI so go figure. =P

[AngelChaser]

Originally Posted by capitalpaintball

(c) Any minor child and/or parent/guardian of a minor child, and any other person, shall be required to successfully participate in such paintball gun use and safety course prior to any of the following: (1) purchasing a paintball gun in this state; (2) transporting a paintball gun in this state; (3) participating or otherwise engaging in recreational use of a paintball gun or guns in this state.

This right here is what the problem is. I would bet they do not force anyone who purchases a legitimate firearm to take a course before purchase.

Besides, how many people live in RI? Like 4? It's a piss-ant state trying to make a law establishing policy that can be cited as precedent for other states. This is exactly the type of legislation that if it makes Law then other states will bandwagon. They will point to reduced paintball-related vandalism, but they will not focus on businesses shut down due to loss of customers from the newly imposed restrictions.

[podup365.com]

(c) Paintball guns shall not be transported at any time in the passenger compartments of motor vehicles.

I drive an SUV. The whole interior of the vehicle is the passenger compartment. It's the same way with minivans. Where am I supposed to put my paintball gear while traveling? This law is not very well thought out.

Until people using any type of sporting equipment (for other sports that can cause an injury) have to follow the same rules, laws like this one appear unconstitutional to me. They would need a good reason to show why paintball needs to be set apart from other sports.

Having said all of that;

As for the safety classes, this would be a good idea, especially for the under 18 age group. Paintball fields and stores could charge a fee for the course, then offer the customer a discount equal to the cost of taking the course either on gear or field fees. Of course, this is a way for the state to make some income off of paintball since part of the course fee would likely go to the state, there would most likely be a fee for getting the proof that one had taken such a course, and anyone caught breaking one of these laws would be paying some form of a fine for the infraction.

I am also an advocate of always transporting your paintball gear in a case. My neighbors have never seen me carry one to a car outside of a case. Most of the time they think it's photography equipment since they see me with my cameras often. Not having a paintball marker in a case could lead to a "brandishing" a weapon charge if the police are called. This is not a good thing to have an arrest record for. At the very least it could alarm your neighbors or those near the paintball store/field where you play. Besides, a case protects your gear and your paintball marker so you will save $ in the long run.

If some idiot shoots up a neighborhood with paintballs and the police pull your vehicle over with a fully loaded hoper on an aired up marker while on your way to a paintball field, you will be arrested. It won't matter that the paint in your hopper doesn't match the paint used for the vandalism. It won't matter that the vandalism is days old either. Put your marker into a case. It doesn't take much of your time!

I also like the idea of having to play in designated areas, such as existing paintball fields. It's better for business at paintball fields. As long as this doesn't mean the field has to buy some sort of permit or pay more in taxes to do it. Outlaw paintball could still be play on property that you own. True renegade paintball would be trespassing on land you do not own anyway.

The lawmakers are on the right track here. Obviously there is a reason why lawmakers are paying more attention to paintball for a reason. An increase in the number of eye injuries maybe? With a few tweaks for things to read as they should, the could have it ironed out in a way that is more acceptable.

[AngelChaser]

Let's just make everyone take a driving class every year while we are at it too. And make everyone take an AA class if they are old enough to drink. See where this leads? The idea of forcing Adults to take a safety course is outlandish. Idiot children I could see, but they are targeting everyone, not just kids. And if the laws governing airguns were followed in the first place then this one wouldn't be needed. Enforce the laws we have, don't make new ones to deal with lazy enforcement of existing laws.