Mother wants Paintball guns regulated

[HVYARTILLERY]

Originally Posted by sarge

why cant we just super glue the tw&#s of the idiots. would seem to be much cheaper

so many tw&#s, so many idiots, not enough super glue. Besides, speaking from experience as a PARENT of 5, ( that's right 5, one on the way, 2yrs - 17 yrs) each one of them know the rules about paintball safety ( maybe not as much the 2 yr old but the 13, 15, & 17 yr olds most definitely do) and me being what most seem to see as a responsible PARENT know to look after my CHILDREN when it comes to paintball or other activities that could possibly harm my CHILDREN. But that's just me I guess, a PARENT who loves his CHILDREN, and wants to know what they're doing during the day and night. Get the hints.... PARENT---CHILDREN in this case which is which.

[Silverback]

As of this post there are 110 replies (Mine is 110). Of those, 2 belong to Melissa (the "Mom") and there is only 1 other post that agrees with Melissa. So that's let's see, 6 minus 2, carry the 5, take the square of the hypotanus, and add 3.14157, that's 107 AGAINST the petition and 1 FOR (not counting Melissa)

Me thinks that COMMON SENSE may win out over this issue, but don't forget what happens when large numbers of stupid people get together..... It's called CONGRESS.

[Bobio]

Originally Posted by Silverback

As of this post there are 110 replies (Mine is 110). Of those, 2 belong to Melissa (the "Mom") and there is only 1 other post that agrees with Melissa. So that's let's see, 6 minus 2, carry the 5, take the square of the hypotanus, and add 3.14157, that's 107 AGAINST the petition and 1 FOR (not counting Melissa)

Me thinks that COMMON SENSE may win out over this issue, but don't forget what happens when large numbers of stupid people get together..... It's called CONGRESS.

What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 60? Congressman.

[gfgjester]

I really wonder about the severity & validity of this whole thing. I publicly challenged the "1200" eye injuries that this doctor attributes to supposed paintball injuries. I'm sorry, but I believe that if there had been that many eye injuries due to paintball accidents, we'd have heard a LOT more about it. Extremist force it down your throat crap. But they won't answer or provide any proof. Same old 76...

[Brain]

Originally Posted by Bobio

What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 60? Congressman.

You forgot the 2 illegitimate children, 3 dui's and, dropped drug charges requirement.

As for the % of injuries to number of players. The 10 million figure is interesting. There is no way to calculate the actual number of people playing paintball every day each year. I would guess it is probably around 25 million maybe more per year. You have to count every time an individual plays not the number of people that play paintball in a year to get an actual percentage.

imo

[Bobio]

Originally Posted by gfgjester

I really wonder about the severity & validity of this whole thing. I publicly challenged the "1200" eye injuries that this doctor attributes to supposed paintball injuries. I'm sorry, but I believe that if there had been that many eye injuries due to paintball accidents, we'd have heard a LOT more about it. Extremist force it down your throat crap. But they won't answer or provide any proof. Same old 76...

Absolutely. We all know 99% of all statistics are made up 75% of the time by 82.5% of men and 98.5% of women when talking to 88% of the population 100% of the time.

Any time someone starts quoting statistics to you with out some back-up or you read an article that rambles on with statistics with out copious footnotes to back them up don't believe any of it.

The only thing that really stuck with me from my college statistics class was the statement that you can make any set of statistics show whatever you want them to simply by the way they are presented. Thats accurate to within 2 to 3 percentage points.

[Mothman]

Hmmm, My views are always very controversial compared to my colleges. I guess that's why they are my views, and not someone else's.

I don't think , we, as a paintball community, are taking a more responsible stance on this case. Everyone is diverted from the fact, and rightly so, that she wants the state to regulate paint guns. I think everyone has thoroughly stated why this doesn't help things, and made good points about why that route is the wrong one. What no one has done, is to give a logical, sympathetic answer to how she can deal with better eduction and awareness about paint guns. It seems her bottom line is to make sure that those that take part in the sport know how to use the equipment and obey rules so that no one goes to the hospital. Now before you get all redfaced and tell me where to go. Ask yourself these questions.

1. Do you know what its like to be shot directly in the eye with a paintball. Have you seen any pictures or heard any stories that depict this process?

2.What if it was you, or your friend or your child, or wife, mother, etc that had that happen to them? What would you do about it?

3.Do we not have paintball committee's , associations? Are these organizations only good for show, do they not assist the community?

4. What does this say about players that was close by and might have seen a unblocked barrel in a stagging area? What does that mean to the rest of us the next time we are in a stagging area?

Paintball players, groups, and even the field, should have stood up and helped this woman and her son. We should have pointed her in the right direction. We should have assured her that her sons legacy would change the sport, make it safer, But what have we done? What have we done as a paintball community?

Why could we have not suggested for her to work with the field owner and cracking down on safety violations at his own park. Make it the safest place to play in the country, and then spread that process across her whole state, and then maybe nationwide. I do agree with some of you, asking our government to step in is not the way, but "we" need to. The question is, have we, can we, will we?

[Bubbagump]

Originally Posted by sarge

this is the third article on this neo **** mom who is still blaming the world for the fact she did not keep up with her kid. now she is going to get a bunch of soccer moms together with the same inabilities and complicate it for those of us who play paintball. i again ask the question "why cant these parents take responsibility for their actions or lack there of?"

EXACTLY, my friend showed me this video on myspace and I thought the same exact thing.

[gfgjester]

Originally Posted by Mothman

Hmmm, My views are always very controversial compared to my colleges. I guess that's why they are my views, and not someone else's.

I don't think , we, as a paintball community, are taking a more responsible stance on this case. Everyone is diverted from the fact, and rightly so, that she wants the state to regulate paint guns. I think everyone has thoroughly stated why this doesn't help things, and made good points about why that route is the wrong one. What no one has done, is to give a logical, sympathetic answer to how she can deal with better eduction and awareness about paint guns. It seems her bottom line is to make sure that those that take part in the sport know how to use the equipment and obey rules so that no one goes to the hospital. Now before you get all redfaced and tell me where to go. Ask yourself these questions.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree totally. And I'm not redfaced. As a member of the press, I have seen more than my share of these incidents. This lady wants to punish someone for her inattention to her child during a dangerous game. She thinks she can vanquish her feelings of guilt by forcing regulation on all paintball guns... LOCKING THEM ALL UP is close to her direct quote.

1. Do you know what its like to be shot directly in the eye with a paintball. Have you seen any pictures or heard any stories that depict this process?

Yes I have, but what does that have to do with anything in the article or this incident? If he would have gotten shot in the arm and it drew blood, could she have seen the danger? Would she be filing her action?

2.What if it was you, or your friend or your child, or wife, mother, etc that had that happen to them? What would you do about it?

I guess I could say, what if my friend, child, etc. had gotten into a head on collision after running a red light on a bicycle and were seriously injured? I'd demand that they make it a law to register bicicles because you can hurt yourself on one. Again, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

3.Do we not have paintball committee's , associations? Are these organizations only good for show, do they not assist the community?

Yes; They do; And they are usually met with the same resistance and attitude that most paintball players are met with in a situation like this. They're considered the bad guys.

4. What does this say about players that was close by and might have seen a unblocked barrel in a stagging area? What does that mean to the rest of us the next time we are in a stagging area?

They were a bunch of 15 year old kids playing in a private residence BACKYARD under the supervision of the vey same mother who is making this whole complaint. THEY WERE NOT AT A FIELD!

Paintball players, groups, and even the field, should have stood up and helped this woman and her son. We should have pointed her in the right direction. We should have assured her that her sons legacy would change the sport, make it safer, But what have we done? What have we done as a paintball community?

See above statement...

Why could we have not suggested for her to work with the field owner and cracking down on safety violations at his own park. Make it the safest place to play in the country, and then spread that process across her whole state, and then maybe nationwide. I do agree with some of you, asking our government to step in is not the way, but "we" need to. The question is, have we, can we, will we?

Again, NO FIELD INVOLVED. Work with her own back yard! She has no interest in "working" with anyone short of a lawyer. She get's her ordinance passed and all paintball players have to register their guns when they're purchased. Then she becomes "high profile" and gains the sympathy of the public AND the jury when the day comes to plead her son's terrible case. All because she was inattentive to, not only her son and their play, but the safety information that is plastered all over the boxes, materials, internet, stores and everything but Tinkerbell's ass about how paintball markers are NOT TOYS and should be used with the proper safety equipment. And you know what? As cold as it may seem, I don't care ONE IOTA about this lady. She does more harm to our sport in one article than any act of vandalism paintball idiots do...

And I repeat my request to the doctor who says that it's the second such injury he's seen in several months, but turns around and says that there are 1200 injuries like this every year. It sounds like a bunch ao rhetoric to me. They never answer me for confirmations on their "sources". Why? Because they pull their sources from thin air.

You want to feel sorry for someone that wants to assume absolutely no responsibility for their actions, it's a free country. But you're in a disctinct minority here, my friend, and I know you are not that naieve.

Thank you for presenting another viewpoint. I applaud your effort.

[Mothman]

Originally Posted by gfgjester

I'm sorry but I have to disagree totally. And I'm not redfaced. As a member of the press, I have seen more than my share of these incidents. This lady wants to punish someone for her inattention to her child during a dangerous game. She thinks she can vanquish her feelings of guilt by forcing regulation on all paintball guns... LOCKING THEM ALL UP is close to her direct quote.
[/color]

PPPTU! (spitting my foot from my mouth) Opps. I read the article at the beginning of the thread , read some of the replies on here and at the WTNH.com site, and never knew it was on her own land. After I replied on here I went over to youtube and saw the video. When I noticed it was outlaw ball, I felt my argument deflate like a Xball bunker on a Sunday afternoon.

The fact that it was outlaw ball does change my stance about it. The whole story does sit better with me knowing what she is hiding. I wouldn't think she could get far with that much against her. I would think she would need more support not only from people outside of paintball but those in the industry also to get legislation passed.

I do think she needs some education. I did follow the link on the wtnh.com site to her own ctparentsagainstpaintball site. I sent her a note asking for her to write me back or call me. I do think she should first be reasoned with, if she hasn't already. I do think there should be a representative of the paintball community at her November presentation.

Do you know what would be awesome to come from her, is her own sons testimony. His story, no matter how flawed it is. I think his story should be published. Paintball players do need a reality check from time to time and to read what its like to loose an eye to paintball. Something like that should be in a national publication on a yearly basis. I happen to catch "Bob" the paintball players post on the spec ops forum, and it details his whole ordeal with such a injury. It sickens you when you read it. His description of the shear torment and pain when you receive such a injury makes your body ache. It made me never want to experience that, or see a friend go through that.

I do think outlawball is now questionable. I used to think it was cool. It saved on money, time, etc. I used to think as long as your with people you trust, everything will be cool. Not anymore. Ive played several outlaw games in the past 6 months and found out just the opposite. You get people doing all kinds of crazy stuff on a outlaw field, and you know Murphy's law is hiding somewhere close. Not only do you start to question other people jeopardy, but your own too. I would think, if she would want to put a law on anything, it might would be that you need a permit to have paintball games on your own property. The permit would ask for supervision and education for holding such activities. Again, I don't stand behind that, so don't argue it with me, just a thought.

Thanks for setting the record straight gfgjester. No harm, no foul.