mickb wrote:Tassie tiger I think its taking safety way too far- if a type of gun can kill - it needs to be pointed in a safe direction, so, by definition, people don't get killed by it. If its purpose it to be pointed, and it can be done so safely, its acceptable. I can understand you are saying the practice may create a bad habit, but how far do we want to take it?
Kids start the sport of sword fencing at 9, using almost real swords to stab the hell out of each other, which is the entire purpose of the sport. Does this turn them into random killers they first time they get a real blade in their hands? No.
Technically nerf guns can cause eye damage and do we teach kids not to aim cowboy guns in case they kill each other the first time they have a 22LR? What about water pistols, they clock up more kills than paintballs lol. How about banning swinging plastic pirate swords? Cmon....
TassieTiger wrote:mickb wrote:
We arent talking about water pistols, or tin “foils” - these markers can shoot at 300fps - faster than many compound bows. The reason they don’t injure / kill, is generally the target has armour and is at distance - if someone was shot at point blank range, in the wrong body location - even with a plastic pellet (which I’m sure you’ll agree can easily be swapped out for a bearing) - then serious injury can and will result.
I attended a work event some time ago out of curiosity. Many younger players wore the mandatory goggles and nothing else. Several were off on sick leave the following days as huge welts, heavy bruises resulted from being struck at 50m - whilst I loving slapped each welt when they did return and chastised them for being sooks, there were 20+ year old men...not 12 year old boys / girls...
Dunno - it just seems a bit strange to me.
sungazer wrote:FFS did you never play cowboys and Indians with cap guns or even cork popping rifles and the arrows were probably more dangerous. The world is to PC and wants to protect everyone.
bigrich wrote:I get taz’s Point. A paintball marker is not a lethal weapon, but “taught “ behaviour that may overlap common sense associated with lethal firearms is a concern, because there are a lot of modern kids that aren’t common sense for mature enough to differentiate between the two in a given moment of emotional reactions. Yes, they are just paintball guns , and rough play and injuries are part of childhood. With the political correctness bogey man of GCA, I can see them winging about 12 year old shooting at one another. I’ve done paintball years ago, good fun . I can’t recall seeing any kids that young involved back then but. Just a few points I thought I would throw in the discussion.
trekin wrote:Taz, they are only firearms because the laws here (except now in NSW, and about time too) says so. Paint ball, airsoft and gel blasters are considered as toys, and rightly so, in nearly all other countries in the world.
And if you allow a 12 yo to shoot bearings from a marker, who's the bigger irresponsible fool, you, or the 12 yo??
Edited to add,
My, at the time 4 yo granddaughter broke her arm in five places, between the wrist and elbow, playing on a slippery slide at daycare, should we ban them?
sungazer wrote:FFS did you never play cowboys and Indians with cap guns or even cork popping rifles and the arrows were probably more dangerous. The world is to PC and wants to protect everyone.
TassieTiger wrote:But GB, A computer game doesn’t have consequences - it theoretically lives and remains in the mind.
A game of Paint ball, people literally drop on the ground in pain from your shooting, your running around on adrenaline trying to not get hit, but constant banging of bullets into obstacles, around your head, reminds you, this is going to hurt - and has real consequences...emotions are running high...
On the other side of the coin maybe - if you were an adult player, you do not know whom is on the other team - imagine shooting someone in the head and it turns out that it’s a 12yr old kid, now screaming in agony from your shot....how do you feel - harden up? Don’t play ? Stuff him - he chose to play, he should know better??
How about wait til 14 or 15 when a little more maturity helps make a more informed decision.
Put it this way for those that haven’t played it - would you be happy for your 12 year olds to go to a “game” carrying your 800 feet .177 pellet rifles - shooting cotton tips at each other - wearing safety glasses?...they hurt about the same at 15 ft lol. A decent shot in the gonads and the kid won’t be paying csa...
Yeah Taz all that could happen but it would be a irresponsible person to let this happen for instance one would think careful consideration would be taken on who the game involved and adults involved should take care of 12yr olds playing with them same as martial arts ,boxing, football what ever sport where there is a chance of injury then it comes back to the parent/ guardian deciding whether it is appropriate for that 12yr old to join in considering any dangers involved
on_one_wheel wrote:Somebody think about the children
They love it.
I'd rather take my kids out for some genuine exercise playing paintball rather than letting them vegitate out playing endless gory shooting computer games while they graze on junk food.
And those red welts can be payback for being little s**ts
on_one_wheel wrote:Somebody think about the children
They love it.
I'd rather take my kids out for some genuine exercise playing paintball rather than letting them vegitate out playing endless gory shooting computer games while they graze on junk food.
And those red welts can be payback for being little s**ts
trekin wrote:TassieTiger wrote:But GB, A computer game doesn’t have consequences - it theoretically lives and remains in the mind.
A game of Paint ball, people literally drop on the ground in pain from your shooting, your running around on adrenaline trying to not get hit, but constant banging of bullets into obstacles, around your head, reminds you, this is going to hurt - and has real consequences...emotions are running high...
On the other side of the coin maybe - if you were an adult player, you do not know whom is on the other team - imagine shooting someone in the head and it turns out that it’s a 12yr old kid, now screaming in agony from your shot....how do you feel - harden up? Don’t play ? Stuff him - he chose to play, he should know better??
How about wait til 14 or 15 when a little more maturity helps make a more informed decision.
Put it this way for those that haven’t played it - would you be happy for your 12 year olds to go to a “game” carrying your 800 feet .177 pellet rifles - shooting cotton tips at each other - wearing safety glasses?...they hurt about the same at 15 ft lol. A decent shot in the gonads and the kid won’t be paying csa...
You do understand that there are lower powered markers just for kids, don't you; https://paintballforkids.org/best-paint ... -for-kids/ I would be very surpised that ANY club/Assc would entertain the thought of letting children go into the field with the standard stuff, or let them play against adults using the same???
TassieTiger wrote:on_one_wheel wrote:Somebody think about the children
They love it.
I'd rather take my kids out for some genuine exercise playing paintball rather than letting them vegitate out playing endless gory shooting computer games while they graze on junk food.
And those red welts can be payback for being little s**ts
So what your saying without saying is... we can punish our kids now by shooting them with a paint ball marker - as long as they are over 12 and as long as we keep a receipt from the family paintball game last week (cough cough)...ok now we are on the money!!
Run you little bustard run...lol
on_one_wheel wrote:TassieTiger wrote:on_one_wheel wrote:Somebody think about the children
They love it.
I'd rather take my kids out for some genuine exercise playing paintball rather than letting them vegitate out playing endless gory shooting computer games while they graze on junk food.
And those red welts can be payback for being little s**ts
So what your saying without saying is... we can punish our kids now by shooting them with a paint ball marker - as long as they are over 12 and as long as we keep a receipt from the family paintball game last week (cough cough)...ok now we are on the money!!
Run you little bustard run...lol
I think your getting a little carried away Tassie.
You've made your point well known that you don't like the idea of children precipitating in paintball and that's fine. I'm sure we all respect your opinion.
Personally I like the fact that we have been allowed the choice to let our children get involved if we wish. That's what freedom is made of.