General

[Emerald Wolf]

Argh....it ate my post...have to start over...

Okay, first of all....

Safety Courses -- Mandatory safety courses do not guarantee that ppl won't still do something stupid. They teach us in Hunters Safety not to do "clearing shots" with a firearm, and people still do (I've seen a couple of 30-06 barrels split from this) The only thing that safety courses do is inform the ignorant, and make insurance companies feel better. I'm all for having good field orientations, and having "Rule Nazi" refs. Personally I think there are some lawmakers that could use a safety course or two...

Transport -- When I transport firearms, they are cased/unloaded. When I transport my markers, they are degassed and in the very back of my Bronco. Whether they are in "cases" or not depends on whether I'm coming or going. Coming home, I don't feel like repacking EVERYTHING. I empty the hoppers so they don't spill, and degas and let it go. Again, I don't like some uninformed twit telling me how to load my car. I hate some uninformed cop giving me a ration on the side of the road because of the uninformed twit making laws.

Designated Fields -- This is okay for in town. If you live in suburbia, there just isn't the room to play without bothering others. Parks are also not the place to play (I had a friend learn this the hard way). So in town, fine. But if I go out to the forest, I want to be able to play without the afore mentioned uninformed twit telling me I can't because bikers/hikers/horse ppl/ etc have more rights than me. I pay taxes, I support the economy, I have rights. If I can't pursue my hobby on "Public Lands" why do I have to pay for it? The other trouble with this is that little piss ant local governments will probably want to charge fees/etc. So since the monkeys that created this miss aren't going to pay for the BS, I'm going to have to...(Just how much gun control do you think there would be if the gun control monkeys had to pay for it?)

So apparently the real problem is the lawmakers, maybe we need a law restricting them...

Catchya on the Flip Side.....

Emerald Wolf -- Will register guns when they register for their right to free speech...

[pillage]

Originally Posted by Brewtt

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.

It also means if you have a large yard, you can't shoot your markers in the backyard. I shoot mine in my backyard all the time, without issue. When I first started playing paintball, there were not any players under eighteen at all. It was more cost prohibitive, and it was a purely adult activity. Even though there are plenty of minors that play paintball, using common sense, it still is more or less an adult activity. How about treating everyone like they are adults and hammering those who break the rules as such. This would include the parents of minors, who just drop off junior at the field with a credit card. In our kindler, gentler, p.c. world we just can't go around singling out the bad apple. We should though. Adults or minors should be made to live up to the same standard, but I don't think this should be legislated. It should be left to the fields. This law is just a knee jerk, feel good and usless waste of resources. For example if someone minor or adult are riding around shooting at cars this is already proscibed, hammer them. No new laws needed.

[Titus]

Being from Rhode Island, I see this as pointless and that my state is only trying to make a law. There isn't too many PB shops in RI as it stands, maybe 10 at the most, and other than Providence Paintball being indoors, I can't think of too many other "fields" that would benefit from this law being passed.

It's really a kick between the legs for the kids who want to play and have a good time. I remember having my parents drive me over an hour to the local field, when we had 6+ acres in the backyard. Making it illegal now to do that (even though it already was as I'm sure we were on someone else's property) is just silly.

But don't forget too that Rhode Island has made it by law so that Cap guns are illegal and ropes may not be strung across a highway. One heck of a state.

[supergeo]

Seriously, they don't need to micromanage people.

[podup365.com]

All of this is pretty much moot, considering it's a state the size of a postage stamp anyway. I don't like the notion of other states possibly taking a queue from R.I. though. I am against the creation of laws about airguns and paintball, because once they start, they won't stop. Some of the anti-gun lobby see paintball as doorway to get to their real goal, firearms.

The law really is in the hands of paintball players though. If you see or hear about somebody doing something stupid with their paintball or even airsoft (some lawmakers do not know the difference) equipment, admonish them for it! Tell them they are an idiot and tell them why you think so. It might sink into their heads eventually!

My other issue is that a lot of lawmakers are wanting to create laws regarding the use of paintball guns because people have used them for the purpose of vandalism. I believe that the people who vandalize property with paintball equipment are not the real paintball players. They are some kid and his friends who bought a crappy marker and some old paint from Wal-mart and decide to shoot up the neighborhood because their parents refuse to take the time to be actual parents. (Don't even get me started on that topic).

The paintball players are the ones who would suffer through any crappy laws that are created. If you are able to vote, don't just post here, write to the politicians who represent your area about this subject and give them your point of view about any proposed legislation that you do not approve of.

Originally Posted by Emerald Wolf

Okay, first of all....

Safety Courses.........

There are no guarantees in life, but a safety course would get the message out and people could not deny that they "didn't know". It wouldn't have to be a long drawn out course. It could easily be administered at a paintball field or store in the time it takes to go through a field's safety briefing. My local paintball store does a 5 minute or longer version of this with any minor who is getting a paintball gun anyway. If more stores and fields did this, the problems would dwindle. The ignorant are the ones who are vandalizing property with paintball guns. If a safety course informs them, then it might just decrease the source of the problem. "Rule Nazi" refs are great as long as players are only playing on real paintball courses instead of their neighbors back 40. I think that lawmakers should have to come out and play paintball before they are allowed to make laws regarding it!

Originally Posted by Emerald Wolf

Transport --.........

Why would you transport your firearms any differently than your paintball equipment? Just because you don't "FEEL" like repacking your gear isn't really an excuse. Just because you don't feel like driving the speed limit isn't going to stop the nice officer from pulling you over. Sure, it's good that you empty the hoppers and degas the marker. You have to pack your crap up once you get home anyway! However, that uninformed cop who pulls you over on the way home (who didn't take a firearms safety course) might just decide to shoot you when he sees what he thinks is a weapon in your back seat! At the very least, it's going to put him on edge and then he will write you a ticket for the original reason he pulled you over! If you "don't like some uninformed twit" telling you how to load your car then write them a letter. Include pictures of you playing paintball with your family or friends. If they live close by, invite them out to play with you!

Designated Fields -- "Public Lands" are exactly that - For the Public. They are not the place to be playing paintball with your buddies without prior and proper authorization. The Forestry Service is not one that you want to cross, either. The current laws are different in every state, but the attitude of "I pay taxes... I support the economy... I have rights" is a closed minded way to think about this subject. The biker/hiker/and equestrian pay taxes, too. They have just as many rights as you do. What right do you have to deny them of time in public lands just so you can shoot some paint at your friends? Either play on your own land or play at a paintball field. Problems solved.

[medic49675]

Originally Posted by Listessa

And everyone keeps asking me why I am moving to Alaska!
They hardly have restrictions on actual firearms, nevermind paintball!

Wow you really will go to any lengths to get into the whiteboard wont you.

[aqua_scummm]

Still better than New York City

[Al Ray]

"Public Lands" are exactly that - For the Public. They are not the place to be playing paintball with your buddies without prior and proper authorization. The Forestry Service is not one that you want to cross, either. The current laws are different in every state, but the attitude of "I pay taxes... I support the economy... I have rights" is a closed minded way to think about this subject. The biker/hiker/and equestrian pay taxes, too. They have just as many rights as you do. What right do you have to deny them of time in public lands just so you can shoot some paint at your friends? Either play on your own land or play at a paintball field. Problems solved.

\
I dissagree, and agree with the above quote. The mentality you speak of is wrong to some extent, belive me I deal with this on a regualr basis. The problem is that it could be revesed to say hikes and such should stay out of the woods becuase paintballers are there. Fact is just use common sense. There are some places on public land here in Colorado we cant play, most have good reason. Colo, National Monument is one such place. Another is the Grand Mesa National forest. This one I disagree with in part, The forest is big and only one part is regualrly populated with people, oh well. Uncompagre(sp) is one that doesnt make sense to me at all. Then All DOW land (lakes more or less) This I agree with, so long as it doesnt spread to the Nat. forest and BLM

Then there is the BLM land. I play on BLM land, and have played in the same spot for 10 years. The closest field is and hour and a half drive (in good weather) away, and is small at best. I geuss I need to put this into perspective, Colorado IS a forest from Denver to the Utah border, with citys and towns here and there. I can drive for 30 minutes get out and walk for 10 minutes then sit down and no one will be within sight for days on end. Limiting play to fields and your own land is ludacris(sp) at best. Heck I had a feild in my back lot, but opted to tear it down when houses were built next door, did I have to tear it down, NO WAY, but I did the neghborly thing. It should aslo be noted that the east cost is VERY populated with paintball fields while Colorado and most of the central and mountain time zones paintball can be found in the states capitals and thats about it. Get a map of Colorado put five or so random dots near Denver, one in Montrose and a few stores in various citys, Thats the Colorado paintball scene. We play in the WOODS, thats it. The woods are our playground, for just about everything.Heck where I play has two entrances, One by 4x4 trail that dead ends where we park (we have to walk 100 yards after that) and one that technicly is a animal path, ( you would have to hike for 20 miles to come out there, in 10 years Ive not seen one person come in that way, bear in mind thats every other weekend , at least, 6 months out of the year( bascly when the snow isnt to deep to walk in) for 10 years) I have only seen hilers on one occation, they had saw us parked in the distance and heard the paintball guns and came up the 4x4 trail to ask us about paintballing, they were friendly and were genuinly interested in the sport.

The ONLY law needed for paintball (well more of an additon to a law) is vandalism of houses/street signs and such. Thats it. One only needs the inteligence of a soap dish to know what not to do with a paintball gun.

[HTRN]

Originally Posted by aqua_scummm

Still better than New York City

Actually, I don't think they'res any laws pertaining to Paintball here.

I can tell you that at least 1 other board member here has played outlaw ball here on Staten Island.


HTRN

[scooter]

Its always the "good people" who f***k things up. They get their foot in the door by pushing for a law that doesnt on the surace seem menacing, but once their in the door, the real colours show. This law would be a mere tool to start doing what they really want to do. Eliminate any form of paintball that is not state controlled. Really what gives them the ammo for this is little ****swho think shoooting property, and people in somecases, is not"really bad" its only paintballs.....What you have are idiots reacting to idiots. State control is not nescessary,and would not be effective on criminaly bent marker users, would just be a pain to the average good joe paintballer.