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Hope i didnt give anyone the wrong impression. I know at least in my case, i was given a pelletgun and turned loose after being given the proper training to be safe with it. And i'm not talking at any recent time, i mean when i was a kid about 9 yrs old. I never once got in trouble with that gun. I know it was at least as capable as a paintball gun to do damage, but it was used properly and it was safe, with or without supervision. I know there was a comment made above about treating paintball guns "just like any other firearm". Not to step on anyones toes, but paintball guns arent firearms, and i dont believe they should be restricted as such. I think there's too many restrictions on firearms as it is. People either are, or arent responsible. It isnt a matter of age--at least within reason. A friends parents back in jr high and highschool had some land and we were allowed to take any weapon we chose out by ourselves and after years of doing that, and who knows how many thousands of rounds, we have never once had an accident of any type. We're talking about a couple 12 yr olds running around with SKSs, deer rifles, etc, and 9mm and .357 handguns strapped to our belts, with packs loaded with camping supplies and a minimum of 300 rds of ammo, being gone for a couple days at a time, with only our own good sense and the property line to restrain us. We hunted, and we trained, and we were safe at all times doing it. If we could do it with firearms, at that age, i know kids nowadays are just as capable of being safe and responsible with pelletguns and paintball guns. Afterall, it wasnt that long ago, i'm only 26.

I'm not much of a fan of them, but have used them as training aides so my Marines and I could do some training for clearing buildings and other close range scenarios. The command refused to provide the training, so we went and bought our own and used them off duty. They arent perfect, but they were close enough to where it was realistic, and everyone got to go home at the end of the day.

Having said that, while i have no problem with shooting one of those in my living room, or backyard, or anywhere else it's safe, well, these guys should have known better than to do what they did. At the same time, if the caller cant tell the difference between a pelletgun firing and a real rifle, well, nuff said.