I've been meaning to mention this for a while. Back in May you will remember that there were some Aid boats on their way to Gaza that were boarded by Israili Commandos. One of the reports about this afterwards mentioned that some of the Commandos that abseiled out of Back Hawk helicopters onto the boats were armed with paintball guns.
I have often thought that paintball guns would make effective riot / civil disturbance control weapons for several reasons. Compared to batons rounds they are cheaper, have a higher rate of fire, are less life threatening, can be used with pepperspay fill, can be used with permant dye for identifying people later etc. There is the question as to whether paintballs would stop a charging rioter charged by adrenaline... Ask yourself whether, in a game when the adrenaline is flowing, you would continue to run at an opponent shooting at you on full ramp... then consider it is the fps was nearer 400 than 300? The US company, RAP4, seems to already be pretty advanced in developing various products that use paintball technology - See here
The main question is about being hit in the eye but is that risk any less with a baton round?
It's not a new discussion but I think it is becoming more relavent as more agencies around the world seem to be adopting them. What, of course, would it do for our sport and would we see legions of students, for example, facing off against the police with them on our streets?
I have often thought that paintball guns would make effective riot / civil disturbance control weapons for several reasons. Compared to batons rounds they are cheaper, have a higher rate of fire, are less life threatening, can be used with pepperspay fill, can be used with permant dye for identifying people later etc. There is the question as to whether paintballs would stop a charging rioter charged by adrenaline... Ask yourself whether, in a game when the adrenaline is flowing, you would continue to run at an opponent shooting at you on full ramp... then consider it is the fps was nearer 400 than 300? The US company, RAP4, seems to already be pretty advanced in developing various products that use paintball technology - See here
The main question is about being hit in the eye but is that risk any less with a baton round?
It's not a new discussion but I think it is becoming more relavent as more agencies around the world seem to be adopting them. What, of course, would it do for our sport and would we see legions of students, for example, facing off against the police with them on our streets?
