Keep It Covered
Monday June 2, 2008
People like to mess around and paintballers are no exception. I'm fine with that. I have a problem, though, when I see people mess around with potentially dangerous paintball gear with no regard for the people around them. If you want to shoot out your own eye - that's you're business. If you want to shoot out your buddy's eye, take it up with him. But, if you accidentally shoot an innocent bystander because you're not smart enough to use a barrel cover, that's a big deal.
I've never seen someone who's been shot in the eye and I hope never to see it. But I have seen people accidentally shoot bystanders (and I've been one of those bystanders) and I've seen people come very close to shooting someone else in the face. It wouldn't have been a pretty picture.
So, if you feel the need to shoot your friend in the legs in the staging area or you want to see if you can shoot a paintball straight up in the air, just do everyone a favor and don't. If you can't help yourself, hopefully the field owner will catch you and you won't be playing at that field anymore. I won't miss you.
Comments
This is way I try to stay away from big name places like Skirmish. To many people that have never seen a paintball a tree come in the woods and feel like they are super cool when then walk around breaking the barrel plug rule. I have seen some one get shot in the eye, and if you are wondering it comes out of the socket.
…sick. I never want to see that. My favorite is when goons accidentally pull their hair triggers and blast off a couple into their barrel socks. I laugh, but I always manage to think “what if they hadn’t had a barrel sock on…”
b0x is right, it ain’t pretty. If it’s a fast, hardshell ball (winter paint), chances are, it won’t stop at your eye.
If you lack the self-control to use a barrel blocker, you aren’t safe enough to hold a loaded paintgun. It’s that simple.