Are Paintball Guns Good for Self-Defense: What to Know
Anyone who has ever played paintball before has wondered what it would be like to use a paintball gun as a self-defense weapon. Getting hit with a paintball hurts, so obviously, there’s some merit to using a paintball gun as an instrument of self-defense, right? Well, it may seem that way during a game of paintball. However in a real-life situation where quick, decisive, and robust defense is needed, a paintball gun may not be the best option. Anyone who is willing to break and enter a house or vehicle could reasonably be assumed to not be in a rational state of mind and therefore, the rules of rationality do not apply. In other words, it’s likely that a paintball gun with paintball will worsen the situation by making the attacker angrier.
In situations where human life is on the line, someone defending his or her house will want to have the highest possible force multiplier–usually, this comes in the form of a firearm. However, there are a number of reasons why people may be unable or unwilling to carry the responsibility of firearm ownership. In some areas of the country and world, it can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to obtain a firearm or just plain illegal. In other cases, a person's legal history may prevent him or her from owning firearms. In either of these cases, obtaining a firearm is essentially not an option. There are, however, less lethal and non-lethal options that may be used for self defense.
While a paintball gun may not be the best option for self-defense, First Strike and Tippmann both manufacture a paintball-style marker that shoots .68 capsules that contain OC powder, also known as pepper powder. In a defense scenario, these “pepper guns” may be a viable option to repel a threat to life and limb.
Why Choose A Paintball Gun For Self Defense
A paintball gun is likely inadequate for any serious defense scenario. However, a pepper ball gun may be sufficient to repel an attacker. Apart from being legally ineligible for firearm ownership, some may understandably decide they don’t want the potential liability of firearm ownership. In this case, non-lethal and less-than-lethal options are ideal as they reduce or eliminate the loss of human life while maximizing the capacity to repel an attacker. There are still certain risks associated with using these types of defensive weapons, just as there are risks with using real firearms. At the end of the day, risk cannot be eliminated in defensive situations; individuals must decide for themselves what sort of risk they are willing to tolerate.
Non-Lethal
One of the best things about paintball guns is that they are non-lethal. Paintball has never been directly responsible for any sort of mortality, though some argue that paintball can be deadly by causing heart attacks in unhealthy players. However, the paintballs themselves are not lethal. A direct shot to the face or eye can maim and cause permanent damage to a would-be attacker. However, a lethal situation is almost impossible. When paintballs with OC powder (pepper balls) are added to the mix, the effectiveness of the paintball gun as a self-defense weapon increases dramatically.
Concealment
One thing to consider when thinking about a paintball gun is concealment. Attacks don’t just happen at home, they can happen anywhere and at any time. The bulk and ostentatious nature of a paintball gun is simply not practical for using it as a portable defense weapon. In fact, someone seen walking around with a paintball gun is likely to have more negative interactions with other people than if they were unarmed. Any sort of defensive weapon that’s carried on someone’s body should be inconspicuous enough to blend in and not cause problems. Even pepperball guns are not an exception since they generally tend to be bulky and appear similar to real firearms. In a state that restricts carrying, this could be a real problem if there’s a run-in with law enforcement, even though technically no laws have been broken. At the end of the day, the carrier would be less safe carrying a pepperball gun.
Pepper Ball Guns For Self Defense
Because of the difficulties of portability, neither paintball guns nor pepperball guns are good pieces of hardware for mobile defense. However, pepperball guns might be just the solution for someone looking to protect his or her family. These guns have paintballs filled with a powder-version of pepper spray. On impact, the balls break and release the powder around the assailant, causing a similar reaction to pepper spray.
Advantages
Pepper ball guns have the advantages of nearly universal legality. There are almost no scenarios where a background check is necessary to purchase one and they’re legal in most jurisdictions (but check your local laws to make sure). Additionally, these pepper ball guns are non lethal and are unlikely to cause any loss of human life. They are also one of the most effective ways of repelling a threat. Of course, there is a possibility that the attacker doesn’t respond to the OC powder, but this is unlikely. If the goal is to get the attacker to retreat without causing serious injury or loss of life, a pepper ball gun is the perfect option.
Disadvantages
Pepper ball guns do have a handful of disadvantages. First, some people are resistant to OC powder or may be too inebriated to have normal physical reactions to it. Second, just like paintball guns, pepper ball guns are not rifled and therefore are inaccurate at long distances. To effectively deploy a pepper ball, the shooter must be close to the attacker which opens the door to two possibilities: 1. Defender gets attacked directly or 2. The OC powder can affect both the attacker and defender. Finally, the powder diffuses rapidly, so any use in an outdoor space may be ineffective and any use indoors may affect everyone in the room.