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Action Paintball Games News Wire: |
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Paintball Legalised in the Northern Territory!
4/1/2007
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POLICE Minister Chris Burns has been challenged to a paintball duel by Opposition MLA Terry Mills.
Dr Burns yesterday announced laws would be changed to make paintball legal in the Territory.
The surprise decision comes despite police last year recommending against the sport because of the potential danger of the guns used.
Dr Burns said only licensed paintball operators would be able to set up a facility for the sport, with the weapons being kept on-site.
Paintball is a perfect game for the Territory's healthy, outdoor lifestyle," Dr Burns said. It's a fun way to expend some energy, build team spirit and spend social time with
friends. The Government carefully considered this decision and it follows my own fact-finding visit to a paintball facility in Adelaide last year.
Dr Burns returned from the trip bruised from his taste of the sport. Mr Mills called the decision a win for commonsense.
"For once, I would applaud the Government for coming into line with southern jurisdictions," he said.
"And I lay down the challenge to Minister Burns to meet me on the paintball field. It would be a great way to launch this new era for the Territory."
Dr Burns would not say whether the police submission to Cabinet supported the paintball plan. "Police had reservations on a whole range of issues," he said.
"I believe our decision has addressed most of those issues. Police have had a view for some time on paintball, and they did have some issues with paintball."
Former paintball centre owner Leyland Campbell welcomed the news. "It's good to see commonsense prevail," he said. "I think it was inevitable in the end because it is a safe
sport, it's played in many countries, there's national titles. It will be interesting to see what sort of licensing requirements they will enforce." |
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