Editing Paintball (section)

== Legality ==
=== Argentina ===
Paintball has been considered an inappropriate game, that promotes [[violence]], by the Parliament of the Province of Buenos Aires. The approved law 14,492 (December 2012) regulates its use: it is totally forbidden for children under 16 years old, but can be played with written authorization by the parents, or responsible person in charge, of youths between 16 and 18 years old. Originally, the initiative had proposed the total prohibition for players under 21 years old. The penalties are also established by law, as 30 days of communitarian work or other modalities.

=== Australia ===
Paintballing in Australia is controlled by the police in each state, with differing minimum age requirements. Players under 18 are required to have a guardian sign a consent form. The minimum ages are 12 for [[South Australia]], [[New South Wales]] and [[Western Australia]], 15 for [[Queensland]], 16 for [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. The minimum age for Victoria was 18 until it was lowered in 2015,<ref>{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Rebecca |title=Amendment passed to lower paintball age limit in Victoria |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/amendment-passed-to-lower-paintball-age-limit-in-victoria/news-story/aec828e2b5116c420e94743fe8556af0 |website=The Herald Sun |publisher=News Corporation |access-date=November 25, 2023 |archive-date=November 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125142453/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/amendment-passed-to-lower-paintball-age-limit-in-victoria/news-story/aec828e2b5116c420e94743fe8556af0 |url-status=live }}</ref> with the support of both major parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snipersden.com.au/paintball-age-limit-change-2/ |title=New update to the paintball age limit |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319230158/http://www.snipersden.com.au/paintball-age-limit-change-2/ |archive-date=March 19, 2016 }}</ref>

To own a paintball marker privately in Australia (outside Tasmania and the Northern Territory) one must hold a valid firearms license endorsed for paintball use.

In the Northern Territory they are considered a Class C firearm and private ownership is illegal.

In Western Australia they are considered a Category E(5) miscellaneous weapon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.police.wa.gov.au/Ourservices/PoliceLicensingServices/Firearms2/Firearmslicencesandcategories/tabid/1903/Default.aspx|title=Western Australia Firearms Classes|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117061605/http://police.wa.gov.au/Ourservices/PoliceLicensingServices/Firearms2/Firearmslicencesandcategories/tabid/1903/Default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In New South Wales,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/133216/FACT_Sheet_Paintball_Gun_Permit_2_December_2011_2.pdf|title=NSW Firearms Branch Paintball Permit|access-date=February 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324141522/http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/133216/FACT_Sheet_Paintball_Gun_Permit_2_December_2011_2.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref>  South Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapolice.sa.gov.au/sapol/services/firearms_weapons/firearms_clubs_licences_registration/categories_access_and_security_of_firearms.jsp|title=South Australian Firearms Branch License Classes|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=April 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412190539/http://www.sapolice.sa.gov.au/sapol/services/firearms_weapons/firearms_clubs_licences_registration/categories_access_and_security_of_firearms.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref> the Australian Capital Territory<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.police.act.gov.au/safety-and-security/firearms/categories|title=Australian Capital Territory Firearms Classes|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223151702/https://www.police.act.gov.au/safety-and-security/firearms/categories|url-status=live}}</ref> and Queensland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/weaponsLicensing/licenceApplication/licences/firearms/recreational.htm|title=Queensland Firearms Branch Recreational License|access-date=February 8, 2013|archive-date=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127165649/http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/weaponsLicensing/licenceApplication/licences/firearms/recreational.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> they are considered Class A firearms for the purposes of licensing and storage.

In Victoria they are now classified as a Category P firearm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/weaponsid/information/category.htm |title=Firearm Categories |access-date=October 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902143538/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/weaponsid/information/category.htm |archive-date=September 2, 2014 }}</ref>

Operators must adhere to legislation on gun storage, safety training and field sizes; private owners have to secure their markers according to state law on storage, as by law paintball markers are considered firearms in Australia.

=== Cyprus ===
Paintballing in the Republic of Cyprus is controlled by police, i.e. all paintball markers must be registered and licensed, the field must be in certain standards that is inspected by police in order to obtain the license for a paintball field. The process of buying one's own paintball marker is just as complicated, the buyer must have completed military service, have a clean police record and be over the age of 18 years.

Minimum age for paintball is 14 years old with parents consent, from 16 and up no parental consent is required. It is required that all players must wear a protective mask as well and neck and chest protection.
Paintball markers are not allowed to exceed 290 fps velocity and a maximum of 12 bit/s (balls per second) firing rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dna-paintball.com/paintball |title=Paintball at DNA - Paintball - DNA Paintball Cyprus |publisher=Dna-paintball.com |access-date=July 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125123811/http://www.dna-paintball.com/paintball/ |archive-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Germany ===
In Germany, paintball is restricted to players over 18 years of age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090514-19275.html|title=MPs rush new gun law but back down from paintball ban|date=May 14, 2009|access-date=April 13, 2010|archive-date=May 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517100530/http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090514-19275.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Paintball markers are classified as weapons that do not require a license or permit; they are legal to buy and use, but restricted to adults. Markers are limited to a kinetic energy of 7.5 J.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bundesrecht.juris.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2_84.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140908122145/http://bundesrecht.juris.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2_84.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2014|title=Anlage 2 zu § 2 Abs. 2 bis 4 WaffG Abschnitt 2, Nummer 1.1|access-date=September 8, 2014}}</ref> Tampering with the marker to increase muzzle velocity above 280 fps can lead to confiscation/destruction of the marker and a fine. All paintball markers sold officially in Germany must be certified by the government ''Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt'' (PTB; English translation: "Federal Physical and Technical Institute") to operate within these limits and must have a registered serial number and an official stamp on the firing mechanism. In May 2009, reacting to the [[Winnenden school shooting]], German lawmakers announced plans to ban games such as paintball as they allegedly trivialized and encouraged violence<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8041320.stm |title=World &#124; Europe &#124; Germany moves to outlaw paintball |work=BBC News |date=May 9, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2009 |archive-date=May 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514020904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8041320.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5291891/Germany-to-ban-paintball-in-wake-of-high-school-shooting.html |title=Germany to ban paintball in wake of high school shooting |newspaper=Telegraph |date=May 7, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2009 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511071321/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5291891/Germany-to-ban-paintball-in-wake-of-high-school-shooting.html |archive-date=May 11, 2009 }}</ref> but the plans were retracted a few days later. Most indoor paintball areas in Germany have a strict "no [[Military simulation|mil-sim]]" policy, meaning that no camouflage clothing or real-life looking markers are allowed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gVwFCPxg2H79qj6jNVgw2MljMRzw |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124195214/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gVwFCPxg2H79qj6jNVgw2MljMRzw |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |title=AFP: Paintball dodges bullet in Germany |date=May 14, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>

=== Ireland ===
Paintballing is widely accepted as a recreational pastime in Ireland and is not directly subject to any governing regulations. In Northern Ireland all paintball guns are classified as firearms and as such all gun owners needs to obtain a license from the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland). There is also a minimum age where all players need to be 16 or older. Paintball is governed by the local [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]] in the Republic of Ireland. A firearms licence is required for both personal and site use. Weapon storage guidelines and security must also be strictly adhered to.

=== New Zealand ===
Paintball markers are classified as Airguns under New Zealand law, and as such are legal for persons 18 and over to possess (those between the ages of 16 and 18 require a firearms license). Following the Arms (Military Style Semi-automatic Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Act 2012 (Which came into effect on December 1, 2013),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asylumpaintball.co.nz/changes-to-nz-firearm-laws-paintball-full-auto-ramping-now-nz-legal/ |title=Firearms Laws & Paintball (Full Auto & Ramping) - Asylum Paintball Auckland |date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=March 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323120726/http://asylumpaintball.co.nz/changes-to-nz-firearm-laws-paintball-full-auto-ramping-now-nz-legal/ |archive-date=March 23, 2016 }}</ref> fully automatic Paintball guns are legal to purchase and use, although a permit to procure from the New Zealand Police is required in order to legally import them into the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/sights-imported-airguns-and-military-style-firearms-new-gun-laws |title=Sights on imported airguns and military style firearms in new gun laws |access-date=March 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425192654/http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/sights-imported-airguns-and-military-style-firearms-new-gun-laws |archive-date=April 25, 2016 }}</ref> Military replicas require a permit for import.

=== United Kingdom ===
{{see also|Firearms policy in the United Kingdom|UKPSF}}
{{one source|date=January 2024}}

The [[UKPSF]] (UK Paintball Sports Federation) is the only recognised body on behalf of paintball in the UK. The UKPSF represents players, traders and sites within the UK and is recognised by the Home Office and government as the representative body for the UK.
Under Covid lockdown exit arrangements the UKPSF established authority and covid operating procedures for the reopening of sites as sports/activity centres in the UK with the authority of Sport England on recognition of safe operating procedures and standards of UKPSF member sites.

Paintballing venues in the United Kingdom accredited by bodies such as the [http://www.ukpba.org.uk/ United Kingdom Paintball Association] and the [[UKPSF]] (UK Paintball Sports Federation). These bodies define codes of practice for venue operators, but accreditation with these bodies is voluntary. The UKPBA is not an accredited body and has been rejected for its attempts to claim that one of players at Delta Force sites were UKPBA/Delta Force members due to having completed game waivers required to play.

Laws pertaining to paintball markers in the United Kingdom classify them as a type of [[air gun]], although some could be considered to be [[imitation firearms]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/firearms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430181004/http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/firearms/|url-status=dead|title=Firearms &#124; The Crown Prosecution Service|archive-date=April 30, 2016|website=www.cps.gov.uk}}</ref> Owners do not require a license unless the marker fires above {{convert|90|m/s|abbr=on}}. Only approved paintballs may be used, and the marker must not be fully automatic. The minimum age to be in possession of a marker is 17, except in target shooting clubs or galleries, or on private property so long as projectiles are not fired beyond the premises. It is prohibited to be in possession of a paintball marker in public places. The minimum age for a commercial venue is generally 10, although some venues provide lower-powered guns for children of a younger age.

=== United States ===
In the [[United States]], eight states define explicit legislation for paintball guns. In [[Pennsylvania]], paintball markers have transport requirements, cannot be used against anyone not participating in a paintball activity, and cannot be used for property damage. [[New Hampshire]] and [[Rhode Island]] require players be at least 18 years of age to own a marker, with students in New Hampshire faced with the possibility of expulsion from school for possessing a marker. In [[Illinois]], owners must be at least 13 years of age, and  Illinois law makes it unlawful to fire a paintball gun from or across a street, sidewalk, road, highway, public land, or public place except on a safely constructed target range.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0571.htm|title=Legislation on paintball guns|date=October 24, 2008|website=jcga.ct.gov|access-date=June 13, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928182215/https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0571.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Virginia]] is one of two states that permit its towns to adopt ordinances on paintball guns, allowing its local authorities to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-915.4/|title=Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns|access-date=April 17, 2015|archive-date=October 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027165817/http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-915.4|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Delaware]] on the other hand only authorizes [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]] to do so, but does allow paintball to be played on farms as it is considered an [[agritourism]] activity. [[Florida]] and [[Texas]] limit government liability if a government entity allows paintball on its property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0571.htm|title=Legislation on paintball guns|author=Senior Attorney – Reinhart, Christopher Reinhart|date=October 24, 2008|access-date=April 7, 2010|publisher=Connecticut General Assembly|archive-date=May 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504094541/http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0571.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In virtually all jurisdictions, the use of a paintball marker in a manner other than its intended purpose or outside the confines of a sanctioned game or field can result in criminal charges such as disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, vandalism, criminal mischief or even aggravated assault. Paintball guns may also be considered air guns in some states. The possession and use of paintball guns in public places may also provoke officer-involved shootings from police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/04/27/detroit-police-paintball-gun-use/559337002/|title=Detroit police to crack down on 'paintball wars'|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728063919/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/04/27/detroit-police-paintball-gun-use/559337002/|url-status=live}}</ref>