Product Review

Tippmann Sports introduces its Custom Pro Series of markers. The Custom Pro Series includes the Custom Pro Basic with single-fire mode, the Custom Pro Response for air-assisted rapid firing at 15 rounds per second and the Custom Pro E with five electronic firing modes: semi-auto, auto-response, full-auto, 3-shot and turbo. Patterned after Tippmann’s popular 98 Custom, these higher-end markers are enhanced by an 11-inch anodized barrel for deeper strikes, faster rates of fire, and stronger, more durable finishes. Each marker comes standard with some of the more popular upgrades available for the 98C. Every model is equipped with a redesigned drop forward, an all-aluminum die cast receiver, a heavy duty stainless steal braided gas line, a removable front grip to accept expansion chambers and vertical tanks and a 200-round hopper.

All markers are available in black finish. The Custom Pro Basic is available in a new camouflage finish, and the Custom Pro E is also available in silver nickel.

Illinois bill altered because of paintballers

Paintballers unite to get legislative bill rewritten. Very nice.

Tony

Illinois Bill Altered
By Bill Mills - Feb 2006
In October of 2005, Daniel J Burke (D), the 23rd district representative in the Illinois state House of Representatives filed House Bill 4132 with the state clerk. In the following months, it moved through the legislative process, being read before the house, and gaining additional sponsors. The bill as originally introduced would ban ownership or sale of replica rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and all replica weapons.

In the last days of January 2006, concern started growing in the Illinois paintball community, that the broad term “replica weapon” would potentially include paintball guns. As Illinois is home to numerous significant paintball companies and businesses including PMI, Shocktech, Centerflag Products, Airgun Designs, The Badlandz, Challenge Park Xtreme, Realms of Ruin, Country Club Paintball, and more, a shutdown of the sport in the state could have a significant impact throughout the US.

Fortunately this was not to be the case. Gretchen Shay of Challenge Park Xtreme and Bob Lanstrum of EMR and Gunslingers Paintball quickly spread the word about the bill through the paintball industry and paintball media contacts, resulting in numerous faxes, phone calls and e-mails to Illinois legislators. Within a matter of days, the bill was almost completely re-written by the house judiciary committee. The new version was amended February 1st, 2006. Instead of making replica weapon ownership a crime, the new bill would make it a misdemeanor “for any person to use any replica rocket propelled grenade launcher, bazooka, artillery piece, grenade, mine, bomb, or items similar to weapons designed and manufactured for military purposes or replicas of those items in a threatening manner.”

Even if a court would decree that a paintball gun fell under the definition of a replica firearm, the new wording would not criminalize ownership, merely the misuse of threatening someone with it.