So far I've recieved two very informative e-mails from APG regarding this ban. The first e-mail is as follows:
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ALERT: BALTIMORE.
BILL to Ban Possession-Sales-Discharge of Paintball Guns
HEARING: MONDAY, MARCH 11. 5 p.m.
Baltimore's City Council is considering an ordinance that would make it illegal
to "discharge, possess, sell, buy, give away, or otherwise transfer any
paintball gun in Baltimore City."
Violation of this would be a misdemeanor and, on conviction, the sentence could
be a fine up to $500, and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days, for each offense.
This would apply to individuals, corporations, partnerships and all other
entities (see below).
The item is on the City Council's draft Agenda for MONDAY, MARCH 11.
CALL THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Also affected, though differently, would be gas- or air-pellet guns (see below).
CITY OF BALTIMORE WEB SITE:
http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/la.htm.
The City Council publishes its agenda three business days in advance of a
Council meeting, and posts that agenda to this website.
The item on the Agenda is under "bills introduced". This is a summary. The full
draft text is below. The summary says:
02-0713 Weapons - Paintball Guns
Sponsors: Holton.
ORDINANCE - FOR the purpose of prohibiting the possession, sale or transfer, or
discharge of paintball guns and similar devices; defining certain terms;
imposing certain penalties; correcting, clarifying, and conforming certain
related provisions governing gas- and air-pellet devices; and generally relating
to guns and other devices that discharge pellets and other objects. - PUBLIC
SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE (020500)
As of March 7, 2002, this is what it says, according to a fax from the City
Council. Call the City Council to get a copy fax'd directly to you. Anything in
brackets [] is current wording that would be replaced.
Section 1. Be It Ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the
Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 19. Police Ordinances
Subtitle 59. Weapons
Section 59-26. Gas- or air-pellet guns.
(A) Definitions.
(1)
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Gas- or Air-Pellet gun".
"Gas- or Air-Pellet gun" means any gun or other device, by whatever name or
description known, that discharges a pellet or other object by force of gas or
air cylinder or cartridge.
(3) "Person".
"Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation,
limited liability company, or any entity of any kind.
(B) [(a)]: Giving, etc., to minor prohibited.
[It shall be unlawful for any persons, firm or corporation to] No Person may
sell, give away, [lend, rent,] or otherwise transfer a Gas- or Air-Pellet gun
to, or permit the use of a Gas- or Air-pellet gun by, any individual whom [any
such] that person [, firm, or corporation] knows or has reasonable cause to
believe [to be] a minor [, under the age of 21 years, any gun or other device,
by whatever name or description known, which discharges a pellet or other object
by force of gas or air cylinder or cartridge].
(C) [(b)]: Discharge or use [prohibited].
[It shall be unlawful for any] No person [to] may discharge or use any [gun or
other device, by whatever name or description known, which discharges a pellet
or other object by force of a gas or air cartridge or cylinder,] gas- or
air-pellet gun unless the [said] gun [shall be] is kept within his or her own
domicile or [shall be] is used by him exclusively for the purpose of teaching
the use and care of [weapons or] firearms at [an] a properly constructed indoor
or outdoor range [which shall be under the supervision, guidance, and
instruction of an adult].
[(c) Same.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any such gun or device from or
across any street, sidewalk, alley, or public road within the limits of the City
of Baltimore except on a properly constructed target range or except on private
grounds or residence under circumstances where the said gun or device can be
fired, discharged, or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or
property and also in such a manner as to prevent the projectile from traversing
any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence.]
(d) Penalties.
Any [violation of the provisions] person who violates any provision of this
section [shall be deemed to be] is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction,
is subject [upon conviction] to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment
for not [longer] more than 60 days or to both fine and imprisonment [, in the
discretion of the Court] for each offense.
Section 59-26.1. Paintball Guns
(A) Definitions
(1) In General
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Paintball Gun".
"Paintball Gun" means any gun or other device, including a gas- or air-pellet
gun as defined in Section 59-26 of this subtitle, that is used or designed or
intended to be used to discharge a paintball or other object designed or
intended to mark a target with pigmentation.
(3) "Person".
"Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation,
limited liability company, or any entity of any kind.
(B) Discharge, Possession, Etc., Prohibited.
No person may discharge, possess, sell, buy, give away, or otherwise transfer
any paintball gun in Baltimore City.
(C) Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, on conviction, is subject to a fine or not more than $500 or to
imprisonment for not more than 60 days or to both fine and imprisonment for each
offense.
Section 2. And Be it Further Ordained, That the catchlines contained in this
Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part
of this or any prior Ordinance.
Section 3. And Be It Further Ordained, That this Ordinance takes effect on the
30th day after the date it is enacted.
The City Council meeting of Monday, March 11, begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
The web site indicates: Full texts of City Council bills are not available
online as of yet. If you require the full text of a bill, please call the
Council's Executive Secretary during business hours at (410) 396-1697. Requests
will be filled via facsimile or U.S. Mail as appropriate.
CONTACTS
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ANY CITY OFFICIAL, IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL THAT YOUR
CONTACT BE VERY POLITE.
STATING YOUR OPINION IS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE, BUT DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS
CONSIDERED RUDE WILL HURT PAINTBALL'S CAUSE, NOT HELP IT.
City of Baltimore
City Council
City Hall, Room 408
100 North Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
City Switchboard (all departments) 410-396-3100
City Council Members:
Sheila Dixon, President of the Council
Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Vice President
District One: Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Jr., John L. Cain, Lois A. Garey
District Two: Paula Johnson Branch, Bernard C. "Jack" Young, Pamela V. Carter
District Three: Robert W. Curran, Kenneth N. Harris, Sr., Lisa Joi Stancil
District Four: Agnes Welch, Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr., Catherine E. Pugh
District Five: Rochelle "Rikki" Spector, Helen L. Holton, Stephanie Rawlings
Blake
District Six: Melvin L. Stukes, Kwame Abayomi, Edward L. Reisinger
EMAIL ADDRESSES:
Baltimore City Council e-mail addresses:
sdixon@baltimorecitycouncil.com
jcain@baltimorecitycouncil.com
ndadamo@baltimorecitycouncil.com
lgarey@baltimorecitycouncil.com
pbranch@baltimorecitycouncil.com
bgaddy@baltimorecitycouncil.com
byoung@baltimorecitycouncil.com
rcurran@baltimorecitycouncil.com
kharris@baltimorecitycouncil.com
istancil@baltimorecitycouncil.com
kmitchell@baltimorecitycouncil.com
cpugh@baltimorecitycouncil.com
awelch@baltimorecitycouncil.com
hholton@baltimorecitycouncil.com
srawlings@baltimorecitycouncil.com
rspector@baltimorecitycouncil.com
nhandy@baltimorecitycouncil.com
ereisinger@baltimorecitycouncil.com
mstukes@baltimorecitycouncil.com
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
President of City Council 410-396-4804
1st District 410-396-4806
2nd District 410-396-4809
3rd District 410-396-4814
4th District 410-396-4817
5th District 410-396-4820
6th District 410-396-4823
Council Executive Secretary 410-396-4800
Mayor's Office 410-396-4892
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Today I recieved an update as follows:
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NO Public Comments Allowed Tonight!
The bill that would prohibit possession, sales, transfers and discharge of
paintball guns in the City of Baltimore is to be introduced tonight at the
Baltimore City Council meeting.
According to officials in Baltimore, contacted this morning, the public is not
allowed to speak at tonight’s meeting on this bill. The public may attend the
meeting, however.
Public hearing: There will be at least 30 days before a public hearing can
occur on the bill. The public hearing is when the public can be heard.
Channel 21 (cable tv) in Baltimore will carry the City Council meeting tonight.
Councilwoman Helen L. Holton may, or may not, make comments about this bill
tonight. She is the Councilperson introducing the paintball gun bill.
Councilwoman Holton’s offices have been receiving emails and phone calls
regarding this bill.
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ANY CITY OFFICIAL, IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL THAT YOUR
CONTACT BE VERY POLITE.
STATING YOUR OPINION IS CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE, BUT DOING SO IN A WAY THAT
IS CONSIDERED RUDE WILL HURT PAINTBALL'S CAUSE, NOT HELP IT.
***
Other Cities:
A city in Connecticut recently banned paintball from city lands. A city in
Georgia recently heavily restricted minors’ rights regarding paintball markers.
Should you hear of any restrictions or bans affecting paintball, you can email
news@actionpursuitgames.com.
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I hope APG don't mind me forwarding on this information - I feel it's vital that as many paintballers as possible read about it.
