| As the needs arise, our law enforcement officers | | | | that these kinds of technologies are not only |
| often have to find new ways of practicing | | | | being enjoyed in fun and games, but in life-saving |
| scenarios of various kinds. Sometimes, a school | | | | situations as well. Maybe the day will come, when |
| setting will be needed to practice rescuing | | | | lead bullets will not even be needed. Wouldn't it be |
| students in situations like the Columbine | | | | great if the time were here when the worst thing |
| massacres. In order to train efficiently, many | | | | that our law enforcements folks would endure |
| SWAT and special ops teams are training with | | | | would be a water fight on a hot, summer day? |
| paintball guns and water balls. It would be | | | | Maybe the day will come when some kind of |
| impossible to take paintballs into a school in order | | | | paralyzing agent can be put in the water balls and |
| to practice life saving techniques. Waterballs, on | | | | become the next weapon of choice. Would that |
| the other hand, evaporate and leave much less | | | | not be great? |
| mess. They also are encased with a light plastic | | | | The debates on weapon control rage on around |
| rather than the gel casings that paintballs come in. | | | | us, with great arguments on both sides. But, has |
| The plastic casings can just be swept up and | | | | anyone but me noticed that only the good guys |
| thrown in the garbage or recycle bin. This also | | | | are debating the issue? You never see a criminal, |
| enables our officers to wear their uniforms | | | | or a gang member enter into any of those |
| without damaging them. Other scenarios that | | | | debates. The good guys are arguing with the |
| would fall within this area of need would be | | | | good guys while the bad guys go on shooting and |
| situations where government buildings were | | | | killing. How dumb is that? Maybe the new |
| involved, banks, city offices and corporate offices. | | | | technologies that make paintball guns and the |
| Once again, we find technology meeting the | | | | different kinds of projectiles that are available to |
| growing needs that come with our ever evolving | | | | use in them will be the answer to the debates. |
| world. With realistic guns and water balls, the law | | | | The "killing" is the part of the guns that the good |
| enforcement officers can practice in settings so | | | | guys opposing guns are upset about. Maybe this |
| realistic (even down to the clothes that they are | | | | new technology can inhibit rather than kill. This is |
| wearing) that it can not only save their own lives, | | | | not, necessarily, my personal preference, but it |
| but the lives of the ones they are serving. It is | | | | might be the answer to the debate. |
| encouraging to see change take place, and know | | | | |