PaintBall

[BuffaloSE-583]

The SPL came to me tonight with some feedback from the troop with some High Adventure ideas. One of them was Paintball.

I know of several Paintball companies in the area that run paintball fields. Has anyone taken their troop to play paintball?

Besides the normal paperwork, ie. parental permission slips, tour permit,etc. is there anything else I need to be aware of to make this a fun and legal trip for the boys?

[hops_scout]

Paintball is not allowed in Scouting.

[riverwalk]

Buffalo, it's good you asked here. Your Unit has (should have) the Guide to Safe Scouting. It should answer most questions of this type. And of course these type forums are also helpful. If they decide to do paintball as a social group, just make sure it has no connection with the Unit or an official activity. Being out on a limb makes for a hard fall.

[evmori]

As a unit activity, paintball is verboten!

[deweylure]

Buffalo

As other post state paintball is forbidden.

I would advise against using the social group excuse to do it as a scouting experience . To me this is showing a poor example . If we do not like a rule lets find a loophole and get around it.

Even though safety gear is worn there have been reports of serious injury.If a boy gets hurt and mom claims its a scout outing there could be serious problems.


Dewey

[wagionvigil]

Fast way of loosing your Charter!

[JazerNorth]

I think this was an innocent question, as paint ball can be safe and can be quite enjoyable. I am glad that Buffalo asked the question instead of going forward with it.

What makes paint ball wrong for scouts is that it is against the safe scouting rules, therefore troops should not be participating in it.

Should the boys go play paint ball? Sure, but the adult leaders should make it clear that it is not a scout activity and the troop will not be involved in any way. The committee can even help in making sure all parents know that the troop is not involved. This way, if the boys do go on their own, it is not part of the troop or patrol.

Enjoy,

JazerNorth

[ASM-142]

I think this was an innocent question, as paint ball can be safe and can be quite enjoyable. I am glad that Buffalo asked the question instead of going forward with it.

What makes paint ball wrong for scouts is that it is against the safe scouting rules, therefore troops should not be participating in it.

Should the boys go play paint ball? Sure, but the adult leaders should make it clear that it is not a scout activity and the troop will not be involved in any way. The committee can even help in making sure all parents know that the troop is not involved. This way, if the boys do go on their own, it is not part of the troop or patrol.

Enjoy,

JazerNorth

Within the scout meetings (PLC, troop, and patrol) it should be made clear to everyone that Paint Ball is not acceptable and against G2SS. The troop should not give boys alternative ways of playing Paint Ball to get around the G2SS.

[JazerNorth]

Exactly. The boys shouldn't be stopped from playing either. What has to be known is that the troop will not take part in the paint ball. As long as the committee has made that clear to the parents, they will be fine. I don't see what is wrong with a leader telling the boys the troop cannot participate in paint ball, but if they want to go play on their own, to go ahead. It isn't cheating the rules in any manner, nor is it telling the boys how to go around rules. The troop will not support paint ball is what needs to be told to the boys. I have had to many times. The last time was for laser tag. I said the troop cannot do it. The church (CO) youth group decided to go. I didn't attend the activity so that it couldn't be construed as a scout activity. The troop was not, nor could be, held responsible for the activity. This was not cheating, or skirting the rules.

[BuffaloSE-583]

Thank you for the clarity. I will make sure the SPL understands it goes against G2SS, because of the safety issues..

Thanks again to everyone who rang in.

[BuffaloSE-583]

As a side note (do induce further feedback), I review the G2SS and there weren't any mention to 'Paintball'.

I read the 'Guns and Firearms' section closely, again no mention of 'paintball', just the standards for Boys Scouts:

"Boy Scouts are permitted to fire .22-caliber bolt-action, single-shot rifles, air rifles, shotguns, and muzzle-loading long guns under the direction of a certified instructor, 21 years of age or older, within the standards outlined in current Scouting literature and bulletins. BSA policy does not permit the use
of handguns in the Boy Scouting program."

Since 'Paintball' is not considered a rifle, shotgun, muzzle loader, or handgun, I would have to assume it would fall in the general category of shooting sports or target shooting, which you have to be under the supervision of a certified BSA or National Rifle Association firearms instructor.

Now considering that, I know of no BSA certifications or NRA programs for paintball.. Paintball is something different.

Is there any information anywhere that I can reference that BSA does not allow Paintball sports?

[wagionvigil]

Sports under restricted or Unauthorized activities. paintball is considered a sport!

[gwd-scouter]

Cut and pasted from G2SS -

Unauthorized and Restricted Activities
The following activities have been declared unauthorized and restricted by the Boy Scouts of America:

Pointing any type of firearm (including paintball, dye, or lasers) at any individual is unauthorized. However, law enforcement departments and agencies using firearms in standard officer/agent training may use their training agenda when accompanied with appropriate safety equipment in the Law Enforcement Venturing program.

[BuffaloSE-583]

I must have a different version of G2SS... BUT I found what you were talking about... direct quote:

"The activity commonly referred to as "War Game" - in which individuals
shoot paint or dye at one another - is an unauthorized activity."


That's what I was looking for! Thanks everyone.

[BuffaloWill]

The online guide is the most up to date version.

http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/toc.html

[ASM-142]

... I don't see what is wrong with a leader telling the boys the troop cannot participate in paint ball, but if they want to go play on their own, to go ahead. It isn't cheating the rules in any manner, nor is it telling the boys how to go around rules. The troop will not support paint ball is what needs to be told to the boys. ...

As a leader to tell a scout that he can not do an activity as a scout but on his own is OK is hypocritical. Would you also tell the scout that on his own he can point a gun at someone, sell and use fireworks, explore an abandoned mine, etc

[wagionvigil]

If it is discussed at a Troop meeting Other than it is not allowed the Troop leadership could be held liable if anything bad might happen. The correect approach would be Boys it is not allowed by BSA. That is the end of the discussion and Conversation. Please discuss this issue with your parents after you go home this evening.

[riverwalk]

I just read it again (in #34416), and it's still unauthorized. It really boils down to using youth members as targets, and that's never allowed, haha.

[OldGreyBear]

I can see it now, the police are at the Emergency Room getting a report on the broken ankle suffered when a paintballer jumped over a fallen log and landed "funny", all innocent but a report still needs to be filled out.

Officer: Who brought you here son?
Injured Lad: Mr Hill
Officer: Is Mr Hill any relation to you?
Injured Lad: No
Officer: How do you know this Mr Hill?
Injured Lad: He is my Scoutmaster
Officer: So this was a Boy Scout activity?
Inured Lad: Oh no, it wasnt a Troop event, Mr Hill made sure we knew
that when we left the church parking lot
Officer: Who were you with?
Injured Lad: Oh we must have had 20 guys out there
Officer: How do you know these guys?
Injured Lad: Well, they are all in the Boy Scout Troop with me
Officer: So this was a Boy Scout event?
Injured Lad: Heck no, it was announced at the Scout meeting that when
we were told the date and time to meet this wasnt a troop
event
Officer: How did you get 20 guys to the paintball field?
Injured Lad: Some of the dads of the kids drove us
Officer: Have you ever seen these men before?
Injured Lad: Sure, they are all assistant scoutmaster's in the Troop
Officer: So this was a Troop event
Injured Lad: Heck no

So, how long should I go on?

[riverwalk]

Haha, it's probably been done.