From the North West Star:

Sights set on cowards

MOUNT ISA paintball have their target locked onto bullies. Mount Isa paintball co-owner Justin Nielsen said the business will actively seek out people who use their guns to injure others.

The statement comes after The North West Star reported several members of the Aboriginal Leichhardt riverbed dwellers said they had been frequently attacked - up to three times a week by thugs firing paintballs guns. They said two members of the community had been hit in the face and leg.

Mr Neilsen said there were people in town who owned their own paintball equipment. He said a user must posses a weapons licence, and be over 16 to purchase a paintball gun.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get their weapons taken off them and see the maximum penalties given to them.

They’ll never play with us as well,” Mr Nielsen said.

“It is a small community that play paintball in Mount Isa. So more than likely they will come and see us.” Mr Neilsen said that after reading the report, he became concerned a few bad apples would ruin what had become a popular sport in the region.

“This kind of thing takes what is a really great sport and puts it in a bad light,” he said.

“It’s a sport that’s growing here and we want to see it keep going that way we don’t want it to go in the other direction.” Mr Neilsen said there were ways to differentiate the owners of paintball equipment.

“If someone got a look on the marker it could help us find out who it was,” he said.

“For example if it was a light pink marker we would know who it was because there’s only one guy in town who has them.”