Re: Who to complain to? (BSA prohibited activities-paint ball)
Amick Robert (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Thu, 15 Jan 1998 12:39:21 -0700
Paint ball was banned due to a high incidence of serious injuries to eyes
and serious bruises to skin tissue. Although sometimes protective
clothing and goggles are worn as they should be, there are instances when
paint balls are fired at "point blank" range because competitors are
caught up in the excitement, and good judgement is not utilized. The net
result is that even protective clothing and goggles do not always prevent
such injuries due to the force involved at close range.
Most activities which wind up on the BSA list of prohibited activities
are as a result of serious or fatal accidents involving such activities
that Risk Management evaluates and determines to be inappropriate for
participation as a Scouting event.
As you know, if a unit allows Scouts to participate in a prohibited
activity, liability insurance coverage for that event is null and void
should a claim be filed for injuries or damages incurred by the Scout.
With regard to Jamboree, I do not believe that para-sailing was part of
the national jamboree program venue. There were demonstrations of similar
events by qualified professionals, but no Scouts were allowed to
participate. There were some activities at world jamboree in
Holland that BSA Scouts were restricted from participating in since they
were on the list of BSA prohibited activities.
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72/SES 72,
Boulder, CO; Longs Peak Council Exploring Training Chair
On Wed, 14 Jan 1998, Ron Raab-Long wrote
>
> The Guide to Safe Scouting forbids participation in paint ball war games,
> which is the only answer we had for him. Where can we go to get the answer
> to his real question, "Why was it banned?"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
