Our local newspaper had an article today on the dangers of these
"nonpowder guns" with mention of "powerful air rifles" and "paintball
pistols used in war games".
I'm betting on a surge of gun control activity.
Here is the full cite and Abstract.
--henry
Title: Injury Risk of Nonpowder Guns.
Authors: Laraque, Danielle
Source: Pediatrics; Nov2004, Vol. 114 Issue 5, p1357, 5p
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms: *FIREARMS accidents
*CHILDREN -- Wounds & injuries
*FIREARMS
*AIR guns
*SAFETY
*TEENAGERS
Author-Supplied Keywords: BB guns
pellet guns
air rifles
paintball guns
nonpowder guns
Abstract: Nonpowder guns (ball-bearing [BB] guns, pellet guns, air
rifles, paintball guns) continue to cause serious injuries to children
and adolescents. The muzzle velocity of these guns can range from
approximately 150 ft/second to 1200 ft/second (the muzzle velocities of
traditional firearm pistols are 750 ft/second to 1450 ft/second). Both
low- and high-velocity nonpowder guns are associated with serious
injuries, and fatalities can result from high-velocity guns. A
persisting problem is the lack of medical recognition of the severity of
injuries that can result from these guns, including penetration of the
eye, skin, internal organs, and bone. Nationally, in 2000, there were an
estimated 21840 (coefficient of variation: 0.0821) injuries related to
nonpowder guns, with approximately 4% resulting in hospitalization.
Between 1990 and 2000, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
reported 39 nonpowder gun-related deaths, of which 32 were children
younger than 15 years. The introduction of high-powered air rifles in
the 1970s has been associated with approximately 4 deaths per year. The
advent of war games and the use of paintball guns have resulted in a
number of reports of injuries, especially to the eye. Injuries
associated with nonpowder guns should receive prompt medical management
similar to the management of firearm-related injuries, and nonpowder
guns should never be characterized as toys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN: 0031-4005
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