The National Park Service said Thursday that it cited three German
tourists for firing paintball guns throughout Joshua Tree National Park
earlier this month.

On Aug. 4, a park ranger patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground saw �fresh
yellow paintball splatter� on structures and signs, park officials said.
Law enforcement rangers responded to the campground to investigate
further, and saw a slingshot inside a vehicle �in plain view.�

Three individuals visiting from Germany were questioned and admitted
firing paintballs with a compressed paintball gun, known as a paintball
marker, and slingshots the night before. Rangers searched their vehicle
and recovered three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs, and other
related equipment.

Park officials said paintball markers and slingshots are legally
considered weapons, and are thus prohibited in National Park Service-
administered lands.

A further search of the park revealed bathrooms and dumpsters and been
shot with yellow paintballs, as well as �at least� 11 road signs along
Park Boulevard from Jumbo Rocks campground to the Maze Trailhead.

Law enforcement rangers issued each of the visitors a federal violation
notice for vandalizing, defacing, or destroying property. They each face a
maximum penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

�Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against
the law,� Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Filosa said
in a statement. �It diminishes the natural environment that millions of
people travel the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with
removing graffiti of all types, using time and resources that could be
better dedicated to other priorities.�

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/tourists-cited-for-shooting-up-joshua-
tree-national-park-with-paintballs/