Mark Contois has launched a campaign for safety in a “sport” he has never played. Mark and Colette Contois’ 10-year-son asked if he could play paintball with his friends. After researching the safety of the “sport,” the Contois’ said “yes.” According to the New York Times, a player inadvertently detached a valve, launching his gun’s carbon-dioxide-filled cylinder as an unguided missile. The cylinder struck Ms. Contois, who was watching from a picnic area, in the back of her head, killing her.

Mark Contois won $8 million in a lawsuit against the valve’s manufacturer and distributors of the valve and cylinder. Now, he is working to increase safety for paintballers. Thanks, in part, to Contois’ campaign, manufacturers are working to improve the valves and cylinders used to fire paintballs at players.

Paintball was started in New Hampshire in the 1970s, by two friends holding a duel using dye-capsule pistols developed for foresters to mark trees for cutting. Since that time, masks and protective vests and gloves have been developed to protect players from serious injury. 

Who would have thought that playing war could be dangerous? Jeff Weaver, owner of the facility where Ms. Contois was killed, has closed his paintball park, saying “I pretty much lost heart for the whole thing.”