Lately, there have been law enforcement officers and lawmakers that have seen property damage by paintball markers. This is getting to be a growing concern to the public and requests have been asked to ban such weapons. This is sad because it damages the true appearance of paintball. In this article, I will go over things such as how the public can view paintball and concerns about paintball being a form of training for world domination.

The Public Eye

For many that never experienced paintball views the sport as warmongers in full battle cammo running around in the woods shooting each other with guns. In other words, learning violence. Well, they're kind of right. Paintballers do carry guns and they do shoot people. But violence these days can harm or destroy lives. In paintball, the players must wear approved protective devices, the guns are restricted to a safe velocity level and enforced by the field staff, close range shooting is discouraged, and no physical contact is allowed. Paintball teaches both young and old to see a loss, not as failure, but as a learning experience. Also for the young, it shows respect for authority, safety, and a determined effort brings reward.

Some fields will have scenario games that re-enact a battle. This is a learning of historical events. Look at the battle of Gettysburg. There are guys that re-enact the battle from start to finish. These hobbyists do not do this to glorify war. Rather, they love history and want to show the public how things were fought. Guess you could say that it honors those that fought and died in those battles. It is not the sports way of glorifying war. And if you ask a war veteran that plays paintball if paintball is like war, they will disagree without hesitation.

Because paintballers shoot each other, the number of injuries are almost zero. Insurance companies can attest to that. The safety equipment is designed to withstand hits. The typical injury that players will suffer is either a sprained ankle or bruises. A good field will have a good number of field staff to enforce safety rules.

Since paintball first appeared in 1981, thousands of people have been playing. And nobody has linked any violent crimes (murders and shootings) directly as a result of playing paintball. Though, there have been incidents involving paintball markers being used to shoot inocent people and property for fun.

Declare war?

Unlike war, in paintball, nobody gets severely hurt when using the proper safety protection used in the sport. War is more of a grudge match. Paintball is more than often a child's game of capture the flag. War can bring out the worst in people. For the most part, most players will behave themselves, treating each other with respect. When used on the fields, paintball doesn't destroy the environment. Air is used to propel the paintballs. And the paintball themselves now are eco-friendly. In war, there is personal and property damage. Finally, war places an emotional and psychological toll for those who have fought in war. Paintball, it is a game. And for some, is a stress reliever excercise.

Paintball as a sport is not a group of people secretly training to take over the world. Even though many of the tactics resemble that used in the military, they really will not work in paintball. Players come from all walks of life. From the college students to medical professionals have played in the sport. Using military tactics require discipline. Most likely, the field staff will break up a group of people to make both teams equal. There are many companies that have a group from the office to build team spirit. It also helps blow off steam. Teamwork is needed to accomplish a goal. Without teamwork, you will fail, not as an individual, but as a team.

Paintball is not teaching people how to shoot others. Though, in part, you do need to learn to lead your target when shooting as they move from bunker to bunker. It is part of the game. Like in the child's game of capture the flag; you can be tagged out. In paintball, it is being tagged by a person with a 75-foot pole. The paintball marker and firearm share many similarities. From triggers and grips to bolts and hammers. But the layout of the parts is different. Even the weight is different. However, the range of a paintball versus a bullet are greatly different.

To many that never played a single game of paintball can have a wrong viewpoint of paintball. It is up to us (those that do play paintball) as responsible players to show the general public what the sport is by our actions. Shooting up the property of people that we do not like is irresponsible. And thus, lawful restrictions will be placed in effect and hamper law abiding paintball players.