When will it stop?
LONDON, Ont. -- A 14-year-old London boy is charged with assault with a weapon after two teens were hit by paintballs while biking in the Fox Hollow Ravine. The 14- and 16-year-olds were approached by a 14-year-old male carrying a paintball gun in the Wonderland Road ravine Tuesday afternoon. The 16-year-old was asked to take off his helmet, which, along with the bikes, was shot at several times, police said. Police said the 16-year-old received minor injuries to his arm and chest as he tried to walk away.
During the arrest, police also found a switchblade.
The 14-year-old is charged with assault with a weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Paintball guns are legal, but police say they can be dangerous.
The dangers of pellet and air guns were thrust into the spotlight last weekend when a five-year-old Toronto boy was shot in the head with a pellet gun at a bus stop. Three people were charged with various offences, including aggravated assault.
In Vancouver, police recently charged four people after a series of paintball attacks involving dozens of victims.
Paintballs fired from guns can leave painful welts, said London police Const. Tania Paavola.
"They weren't created to be used out in public like a water pistol," she said.
In the Toronto attack, the pellet entered the little boy's eye and broke into four fragments before lodging at the base of his brain. He's listed in good condition at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
Use of paintball guns, available at Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart and Flagswipe Paintball on Hamilton Road in London, is restricted.
Under a London bylaw, the guns can't be fired in the city except in a controlled environment, said Brian Mills, manager at Flagswipe, where people pay to fire paintball guns.
That business won't sell the equipment to people under 16 unless they're with a parent. Flagswipe also records personal information to track who buys the guns.
"We've seen it more than once where parents don't want their kids to have it," Mills said.
Canadian Tire officials say the retailer doesn't sell the guns to people under 18 unless a parent is there.
Mills said people who use paintball guns improperly are giving the sport a bad name.
"It really does hurt the sport, it's terrible," he said. "It's our livelihood, so when people go around and do stuff they're not supposed to be doing, it makes it harder for us."
LONDON, Ont. -- A 14-year-old London boy is charged with assault with a weapon after two teens were hit by paintballs while biking in the Fox Hollow Ravine. The 14- and 16-year-olds were approached by a 14-year-old male carrying a paintball gun in the Wonderland Road ravine Tuesday afternoon. The 16-year-old was asked to take off his helmet, which, along with the bikes, was shot at several times, police said. Police said the 16-year-old received minor injuries to his arm and chest as he tried to walk away.
During the arrest, police also found a switchblade.
The 14-year-old is charged with assault with a weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Paintball guns are legal, but police say they can be dangerous.
The dangers of pellet and air guns were thrust into the spotlight last weekend when a five-year-old Toronto boy was shot in the head with a pellet gun at a bus stop. Three people were charged with various offences, including aggravated assault.
In Vancouver, police recently charged four people after a series of paintball attacks involving dozens of victims.
Paintballs fired from guns can leave painful welts, said London police Const. Tania Paavola.
"They weren't created to be used out in public like a water pistol," she said.
In the Toronto attack, the pellet entered the little boy's eye and broke into four fragments before lodging at the base of his brain. He's listed in good condition at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
Use of paintball guns, available at Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart and Flagswipe Paintball on Hamilton Road in London, is restricted.
Under a London bylaw, the guns can't be fired in the city except in a controlled environment, said Brian Mills, manager at Flagswipe, where people pay to fire paintball guns.
That business won't sell the equipment to people under 16 unless they're with a parent. Flagswipe also records personal information to track who buys the guns.
"We've seen it more than once where parents don't want their kids to have it," Mills said.
Canadian Tire officials say the retailer doesn't sell the guns to people under 18 unless a parent is there.
Mills said people who use paintball guns improperly are giving the sport a bad name.
"It really does hurt the sport, it's terrible," he said. "It's our livelihood, so when people go around and do stuff they're not supposed to be doing, it makes it harder for us."
