melchman's guide to:	Firefight Rules

Prerequisites:	None
Sources:	Various Sources

Paintball Firefight

I am a paintball player. I love recreational Paintball. I am not a tournament player. I normally avoid speedball, but these rules should also apply in those games.

These rules are adapted from a hilarious message I received from a friend. I do not believe he is the original author of this work, but it was funny and I was inspired to translate the thoughts to paintball and add a guide page.

Rules for the Firefight

Bring a gun, preferably two guns.
Bring all of your friends who have guns.
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Double Tap! Ammo is cheap, wipers can't keep up.
Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a miss that gives away your hidden position.
If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or taking advantage of available cover.
Move into your attacker unless you are facing overwhelming firepower.
After the drinking session nobody will remember the details of gun model, paint brand, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who won.
If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and moving.
Accuracy is relative, volume works.
Use a gun that works EVERY TIME.
Don't aim; SEE your target and put the ball where you are looking.
Have a plan.
Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.
Know where your team is at all times, friendly fire isn't.
Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
Don't drop your guard.
Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
Be courteous to everyone... friendly to no one.

Original Rules for a Gunfight

Don't bring a knife. Any questions on this rules are referred to Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom.
Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Double Tap! Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.
Move into your attacker unless you are facing overwhelming firepower. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)
If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.
In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and moving.
Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. Don't aim; SEE your target and put the bullet where you are looking.
Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
Have a plan.
Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.
Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
Don't drop your guard.
Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.
Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.)
Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
Be courteous to everyone... friendly to no one.
Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation... and violence when needed.
Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun unless the caliber starts with a "4" or some higher number.