You may think that because in the sport of paintball you shoot people with exploding paint capsules it is dangerous; in fact, the opposite is true.

Paintball is often given a bad rap because of its usage of guns, or “markers” as they are called by those who play the sport.

According to the National Injury Information Clearinghouse of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, paintball is statistically 100 times safer than baseball, which is considered to be a relatively safe sport.

There are many reasons for the safety record of paintball. There are strict rules such as:

• A mask must be worn at all times when on the field.

• When off the field, a barrel blocking device must be in place at all times.

• Muzzle velocity (how fast the paintball travels) must be kept at no more than 280 feet per second to insure the rigidity of the protective gear.

Paintballer Kenzie Cook notes, “In paintball you get more little injuries such as welts, but in soccer when you get hurt, it’s usually serious, so I would say paintball is safer.”

Another thing that keeps the sport safe is that most people have a general respect for guns, so they tend to be more cautious and smart when working with a paintball gun.

The next time you overlook paintball as a possible hobby because it is too dangerous for you, think again.