18 to buy paintballs

[antiramie]

Can someone please explain to me why you must be 18 to buy paintballs from some stores when, obviously, you can just buy them online? I am not yet 18 and am getting extremely frustrated by having to go with my older friends (I am almost 17) so that they will buy them for me or me having to buy them online. And no, you cannot argue that paintball wesbites need a credit card to buy paintballs (which would mean parental knowledge of your purchase) because some sites allow you to use money orders or CODs to buy paintballs which would not require parental consent. I do understand that big chains like Walmart or Sports Authority may do this to prevent juvenile delinquents from "misbehaving with paintballs" but these are the only local places that sell them? What can I do?

[polarbear]

Always being repressed by the MAN ;)

[MuckRaker]

Try not to take it personally Anti, we know that when you do a drive by, you don't use paintballs ... but seriously, it's to limit the store's liability ... plus, WalMart and KMart are run by uptight Christian Conservative A'Holes.

If you haven't already, check out the editorial column in April's APG, about Paintball being forced out of Australia, Europe and to some extent, here in the US.

[Silent Knight]

some of you might disagree but I consider paintball guns as a fire arm! and paintball acessories apart of that. well just paintball guns, and paintballs themselves. They can do serious damage even though it might not seem like it. Don't you have to be 18 to buy BBguns and the pelets or BB's too. well in Hawaii you do

[lssbug]

Don't take offence to this but i think you should be 18 to purchase paint or markers that way if you deside to do somethig stupid with like shooting Eskimos(another topic)
than you are liable for what you did and to pay the damages and not the parents.....just my oppinion!

[Silent Knight]

I agree. Paintball is fun but there has to be a serious aspect to it too. I think it's right that you have to be 18 to buy PB stuff. as for the online thing, I think you have to be 18 to have a credit card anyways, im not sure about that. I have a credit card and i don't even know that, lol.

[X]

Originally posted by MuckRaker

WalMart and KMart are run by uptight Christian Conservative A'Holes.



Don't you think that was a bit of an unfair generalization ? I'm not usually one to whine about what other people say, but I found that offensive.

[Not Too Shabby]

Originally posted by X
Originally posted by MuckRaker

WalMart and KMart are run by uptight Christian Conservative A'Holes.



Don't you think that was a bit of an unfair generalization ? I'm not usually one to whine about what other people say, but I found that offensive.

Not only is it offensive, it is highly inaccurate.
If my memory serves me correct, the same Christian Conservatives that susposedly run Wal-mart are also the ones who vote republican, thereby supporting the NRA's efforts to keep firearms on the market place. It is the ignorent liberals who favor excessive beaurocracies, thereby restricting your ability to buy paintballs. If it weren't for whining, low-mid class "believe anything that they are told" democrats, this country would be much more LIBERTARIAN. Yes that's right LIBERTARIAN!! That means that the government would keeps its nose out of most people's business. This is what most conservative christians belive in.

Who are the ones that hear anti-paintball propaganda and go on witchunts? Who are the ones who push for tougher rules on airguns and firearms? Who are the ones who file lawsuits against retail stores for selling paintballs to minors?

I guarentee that it is not the "Conservative Christian A**holes" who speak out against unecessary federal intervention.

I come from a very conservative background, although I am not a die-hard, holy-rollin fundamentalist. Im not offended, I just expected more from a seasoned journalist.

Back to the subject at hand, stupid rules are a part of American life. Eversince FDR's "New Deal" program, beaurocracies have ruled our democracy. (And yes, FDR was a democrat)

This is what happens when you let ill-informed people make rules that will affect everyone. This is what happens when you allow ill-informed people to fill out a ballot and elect local, state, and federal legislative representatives.

A great man once said, "Any man who is willing to sacrifice liberty for safety doesn't deserve either."

[MuckRaker]

Say what you want to say, but Walmart and Kmart are very Conservative ... They are supported by the NRA and that is why you can get rifles, shotguns and shells and such without hassle at Walmart and Kmart.

I've seen both chains pull movies and albums and computer games off there shelves when only one parent complained the titles were inappropriate. And it should come as no surprise that either chain refuses to sell paintballs to minors.

But, as I stated in my first post, it's not about ideology, it's about liability.

Sorry if you're offended.

[Richy_C]

i'm aloud to buy paint from my proshop and i like the way muck puts is, funny man

[X]

Thank you. Republicans are the ones who oppose gun control legislation. Now that's not paintball, but most Democrats think the same way about things that resemble guns or violence as they do real guns or violence. PB guns, videogames, movies, etc. Some extremists, who were Democrats, Lion Lamb, boycotted toy Nerf guns. Ludicrous. Point is, you don't see this crap spewing forth from conservatives.

EDIT: Muck posted while I wrote this. Apology accepted.

[Not Too Shabby]

Well, if the liberals had their way, they'd wrap duct tape around all pointy objects and pass federal laws against running with sissors.


No Muck, I wasn't offended, just suprised at the "A**hole" terminology. Maybe "arse" or "bum" or "hinee" or "booty" would be more appropriate.

[MuckRaker]

I think we all need to realize this isn't about ideology, but about our sport. I think everyone needs to read the editorial column in the April edition of Action Pursuit Games, it's about Australia banning paintball, and some European countries considering the same. it also points out that local and county governments in the states are starting to follow suit. I want to keep playing paintball, i think y'all do also, so maybe it's time we stop harping about "Liberals this and Conservatives that" and, as players of a sport we love, ban together to keep our sport from becoming the true victim. I think that's something we can all agree on.

It's also time we come to grips with the fact that any legislation that proposes curbs on guns could also affect our sport. In the last week there have been two school shootings and numerous arrests for other violent acts at schools. Though I don't want to sound a false alarm, but when these things happen Legislators automatically go into "Gun Control" mode. If that happens, then we need to keep a close tab on what happens to paintball ... Maybe it's time we start hammering the WPF and NPPL (I hope that's right) and ask them to form a lobby so we can keep our sport open.

As for my comment about the "People" who own Walmart and KMart, that wasn't to say that all conservatives are "The Word I Used," but only that the Powers-That-Be within those two chains are.

But, hey, that's my two cents worth.

[lssbug]

Well put Muck,I am not totaly against or for gun control.
but i do believe as a so called adult at the age of 18 you are liable by law for what happens. i know that myself included did some stupid things with bb guns and such and other than a slap on the wrist thats all the punishment that was given because i was considered a minor.but oh ,when i hit the 18 mark i was fully liable for anything and every thing i did. so i do believe if for nothing else thats why the 18 years of age rule should be in place. well i ramble a little but you get the point