| Most people understand that guns and rifles are | | | | cleaning your weapon. |
| dangerous items, paintball guns are no different. Even | | | | Keep your finger away from the trigger except when |
| though paintball markers fire paint pellets instead of | | | | you are preparing to take a shot. If you aren't on the |
| "real" bullets, handled incorrectly they can maim you for | | | | paintball field with protective eye gear in place, your |
| life. Anytime you are handling a marker, keep gun | | | | finger has no business being any where near the |
| safety at the forefront of your thoughts and you will | | | | trigger mechanism. When running across the field, its a |
| be able to continue enjoying paintball for years to | | | | good idea to still keep your finger off the trigger. That |
| come. | | | | way if you do trip, your finger isn't caught up where it |
| When handling a paintball gun, always treat it as if it is | | | | can easily be broken. |
| loaded. Keep the muzzle pointed down towards the | | | | Only point your paintball gun at targets you mean to |
| ground. The worst possible accident that you can | | | | shoot. Horseplay and guns do not mix well. The story |
| have happen is to think that a gun is not loaded and | | | | always ends badly for the person at the other end of |
| accidentally fire it off at close range. The 300 fps that | | | | the gun. Just because the gun is "only" your marker |
| your gun is chrono'd to equates to over 200 miles per | | | | doesn't mean that it won't seriously injure your friend |
| hour - at that velocity and close range you will hurt | | | | when they encounter a round at close range. |
| someone if you hit them. Not to mention that the | | | | If you don't know how to maintain your paintball gun, |
| speed is enough to destroy any unprotected eyeball | | | | take it to a professional. There are parts inside of |
| that a paint pellet may come in contact with. | | | | every single gun ever manufactured that need to be |
| When not on the playing field, always cap your paint | | | | removed a certain way to avoid injury. Consider taking |
| gun. The barrel plug is not a decoration, its a safety | | | | a class in gun maintenance from your local field or |
| device that will only work if you remember to use it | | | | paintball organization. |
| each and every time. | | | | While paintball games tend to have less injuries than |
| When you are not on the playing field, always make | | | | many other competitive contact sports, most |
| sure that your gun's safety is on. Again, like your barrel | | | | accidents occur because players do not follow basic |
| plug, the safety is there for protection and to stop any | | | | gun safety tips. Common sense and avoiding |
| accidental firing of your weapon. | | | | horseplay are the best tools you have available to |
| When preparing to clean your paintball gun, always | | | | avoid seriously injuring yourself and others. Following |
| treat it as though it is loaded. Wear eye protection, | | | | basic gun safety tips will ensure years of enjoyable, |
| clear and verify that the chamber is clear. Release any | | | | safe paintball play. |
| air that may still be in your gun. After all of that, begin | | | | |