i guess its down to personal opinion and individual cases, but id just like to point out my views are based on the pain factor and nothing to do with the safety aspect of paintball. My son has been around sup air since he was 4 and even though i let him shoot at me running around, I didnt let him get shot until he was 11 and that was playing woods ball. I also work at a site and quite regularly see kids 12+ crying after getting shot.