Laser ban to prevent mass murder

[Andrew]

Laser ban to prevent mass murder

New state laws banning the carrying of lasers in public are aimed at preventing "mass murder" when aircraft are targeted, NSW Premier Morris Iemma says.

Mr Iemma and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione announced on Monday that carrying any kind of laser in public without reasonable explanation will be a criminal offence.

High-powered lasers will be classed as prohibited weapons, and possessing one without a permit will be an offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Possession of any class of laser in public without a permit will carry a maximum two-year jail sentence and fine of $5,000.

Mr Iemma says the new laws are in response to a spate of incidents in which aircraft have been targeted with powerful hand-held lasers.

Basically, there's been a rash of idiots who think it's clever and funny to point hand-held lasers at planes coming in to land. Fourteen years in jail is admittedly harsh but considering the danger involved, such a deterrent would seem to be necessary since previous warnings and appeals for this stupid behaviour to stop.

[Fitzy]

this was on the radio about an hour ago when i was home for lunch

its just stupid that kids would do something like that, i dont see the point in it at all

[The X]

tie the kid down & put to them with a laser in the eye & see how they like it....

[Emiliano]

Stupid people that have absolutely NOTHING to do and do stupid things without thinking of the harm to others and of the consequences. How do people think of these things?

[Andrew]

I'd suggest it starts with shining those laser pointers in other people's eyes or messing around with them in general, then wondering what other mischief you can get up to. The thing is, even though we refer to the people doing this as "kids" I reckon most of them are probably old enough to know better. Or maybe some of them do know how dangerous it is but don't care because nothing bad has happened yet.

[Emiliano]

Exactly. 14 years of jail time does seem a little too harsh at first glance. Seeing as there are criminals that get the same or even less jail time, 14 years seems a little "too much", however that's without taking in consideration the harm these things might do

[Sauru]

those laser pointers have caused so many fights its unreal. never forget the time after a bruins game this guy was pointing one at my friends girlfriend. we of course yelled at the guy to cut the shit but some people just insist on being dicks, so we chased the dude down and laid a beating on him. the thing i find funny about that though is the fact that we left her there at night in boston to go chase some guy down lol. in hind sight we definetly should have just let it go

[Andrew]

Exactly. 14 years of jail time does seem a little too harsh at first glance. Seeing as there are criminals that get the same or even less jail time, 14 years seems a little "too much", however that's without taking in consideration the harm these things might do

There's a bit of leeway as the sentence is "up to" fourteen years which I assume would be restricted to the worst offenders, namely anyone caught doing something stupid. Simply owning a hand held laser when you're not permitted would probably carry a lesser sentence.