Paint Ball

Reading and replying about games that are fun to play in our leisure time, but just don't seem like a good idea to take professionally. On this topic I feel paintball should be included. I have enjoyed going out with a group of friends and playing paintball. Granted I came home with some nasty bruises, scrapes and bruises; but we did enjoy ourselves and have some bonding time. Paintball has become a professional sport to some people. The website http://www.nppl.com/ will help someone be introduced into the sport paintball. There are other sites as well. There are those who spend their weekends practicing and playing in tournaments around there area and traveling to the nationals which was held in Las Vegas this past year. There is the time aspect of the game, but there is also the cost associated with buying the equipment, registration fees, and travel expenses. A person can buy a paintball gun at their local sporting goods store, such as Wal-Mart; or the person can spend some money and get a high powered one from a paint ball store. These high end guns are no laughing matter, the tanks can cost around $185, the guns in the $600s, paint balls, hoppers, and the list goes on. So what makes seemingly normal friends and family want to take a leisure activity to this extreme?  Years ago there were two different paintball fields in the Stillwater area and at least two different paintball shops. If there seems to be a desire for people to play paintball to this extreme, why are there not more places to play?

Open Carry

In the state of Oklahoma, currently a person is allowed to carry a concealed gun with a permit. There is legislation proposed to allow Oklahomans to carry a firearm openly if this new legislation goes through and is signed in by the governor.  A same type bill was passed in April of 2010, but the governor at the time, Governor Henry, vetoed the bill. Proponents of the bill say that it will detour crime. With the thought being that if someone is going into a public place to rob it and there are people in line with a firearm in the open, will the person rob the store or continue on down the road.  The opponents of the bill say that will put all officers on edge when seeing a gun and when they come onto a scene how will the officer(s) know who is the "good guy" and who is the "bad guy".  As far as which side each person is on depends on their upbringing around firearms among other items. But the idea that guns would be allowed in all public places is an interesting idea. Currently businesses can put up stickers letting patrons know if guns are allowed or not in the business. Other places such as banks and state agencies are no guns allowed. Such as the campus of OSU (among others). With this new legislation, if it were to pass and I had the proper paperwork I could walk into a bank or to class with my Ruger P95 on my hip and it would be legal. Would that cause some disturbance in class? Would the teacher/professor be on edge (unless he or she was carrying as well)? This legislation open a whole can of worms into what if type questions for our campuses and other businesses.
What about firearm sales? Would people buy more firearms if they could carry any gun openly? As in Arizona where open carry is legal. The website says:  "Arizona is an "open carry" state, which means that anyone can legally carry any (legal) weapon in the open, without any permits, as long as the weapon is:

• Kept in a holster or scabbard
• At least partially visible on your person, or;
• Kept in a container or the glove compartment of a vehicle (still must be holstered, however)

This means that it is perfectly legal to carry a loaded handgun or revolver on a belt holster, out in the open, while you walk down the street, and no special permits are required. You CANNOT, however, unholster that weapon without a very good reason, nor can you walk around holding a gun in your hand or tucked into your pants. You must have a bona fide holster or case to keep it in, and both the gun AND holster must be openly visible. (http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/arizona-gun-laws.html)" So with this in mind will gun sales increase to all kinds, not just small hand guns for concealed carry? Does this idea make anyone want to put an assault rifle and carry it legal on their back anywhere? How about to a political rally? Sounds crazy, but this did happen in Phoenix in August of 2009, (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207329/Anti-Obama-protesters-toting-ASSAULT-rifles-turn-presidential-rally--did-break-law.html). There is was legal for the men to carry the assault rifles without permits.
As for myself, open carry or concealed carry, I will follow the law. I will still continue to purchase firearms as funds become available and go to the local range to make sure I can use them if the need arises and of course to have alot of fun.

Park Rangers

With many new shows concerning state parks and national parks and the problems they face with crime such as Alaska State Troopers on National Geographic channel, is this a new way the parks have found to help with funding?? The Alaska State Troopers show says that: "hey are the first line of defense on the last frontier, the roughly 400 state troopers who patrol the rugged and unforgiving terrain of America’s largest state — Alaska. One of the toughest law enforcement agencies in the nation, these officers often travel hundreds of miles in piercing subzero temperatures to uphold the law. Responding by land, air and sea — with backup sometimes days away — they face danger to protect the people and wildlife of Alaska."A portion of the show also deals problems at the state and national parks in Alaska. Do the producers hope to bring awareness for the lack of funding that has become an issue for many parks across America? This isn't the only show that details crime in parks. There is also shows on the California troopers/rangers that deal with cartels growing drugs in remote parts of parks. What other shows have you all seen that deal with these types of problems?