Found this and had to share it!
In a very late night session, under the cover of darkness, the United States
Congress voted to ban paintball in the United States with the passage of the
"America Safety Act." Although, the bill was sold to congress as an
anti-terrorism bill, certain parts of the bill ban air powered rifles and
airguns that fire objects at a rate of speed over 100 mph.
The 313-100 vote, with 22 abstentions, was rushed through congress and
hurried into law. The bill now goes to the Senate for a final vote. The bill not
only bans paintball, but allows the FBI to spy on paintball players secretly.
Anyone that uses an air-powered gun will be secretly spied on, without the
approval of a judge, without probable cause.
In fact, the bill even allows local law enforcement to tap any cell phone or
phone lines of paintball players without the consent of a judge. Further,
paintball players may be detained indefinetly without probable cause and without
being formally charged with anything.
Part of the bill also allows the FBI to collect data on paintball players
shopping habits, book purchasing, and search their homes secretly. According to
Bill Meira, attorney retained by Paintball Times, "The new law reminds me of
communist Russia. I can't believe this can happen in America. Why would
paintball players be a threat to our country?"
Although none of the congressmen who voted for the bill returned our phone
calls, the message to paintballers was very clear, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Just as the internet's most popular paintball website, Paintball Times, began
a discussion on elections, elected officials turned their back on paintball
players.
"We were trying to raise awareness and encourage young people to vote," said
Mohammed S. Alo, Managing Editor of the Times. "It's really unbelieveable to
hear about this vote. All I can say, is that we will go to every length, make
every phone call, and turn all of our resources to the Senate and make sure this
bill gets voted out."
Paintball Times is urging all paintball players and all Americans to call
their senators and urge them to vote 'No' on the"America Safety Act." For your
senators' contact information,
www.congress.org.
"We will not allow this bill to pass. We fought this type of legislation in
Canada, and we will fight it here," continued Alo.
Although paintball has enjoyed unfetterred freedom, this is the first real
tragedy for paintball. Paintballers cannot alow this to happen.
This is a sad day for paintball.
Article can be found here
Paintball Times
