Any advice on how I can approach this issue?

Thank you all for the great ideas, really appreciate it!

Marco Polo, I think your advice is one I will definitely follow, staying off his radar seems to be the safest thing to do since I don't feel like having a useless confrontation with him which will only result in me possibly getting suspended. And I SURELY WILL NOT let him know about high-powered lasers.

you make some great point marco polo. though I think it's a sad statement of the lack of respect and dishonesty people can have.

If someone for example came at me with a long needle to try to puncture my eardrum and make me deaf, would I not be justified in physically defending myself, at least enough to stop the threat, not "kick the crap out of" like I said before, but still defending. how is a laser that could blind any different, especially once the person has been made aware that the laser is capable of this?

Is it not better that they be made aware of the possible consequences of their actions, so that if they do blind someone anyway, the punishment can be appropriate as they are completely without excuse?

If they are so malicious that knowledge that they can cause great harm only emboldens them, then it's already at the point where intervention of some sort is a good idea. if this is the case then I do agree it's a bad idea for them to find out that higher powered lasers exist, but I add that this is not exactly secret information, they could find it themselves, plus as you all know, many common supposedly 5mW lasers are overspec and more dangerous, they may already have one and not know it.

Give the entire class exactly one warning, explaining that lasers can blind people, and tell them that they are absolutely forbidden in your classroom. If you see any of them with a laser pointer ever again, grab it from them, and blind them with it. Just blind one eye for the first offense--no need to be overly harsh.

I predict they'll learn pretty fast this way.

Rachel T said:

Give the entire class exactly one warning, explaining that lasers can blind people, and tell them that they are absolutely forbidden in your classroom. If you see any of them with a laser pointer ever again, grab it from them, and blind them with it. Just blind one eye for the first offense--no need to be overly harsh.

I predict they'll learn pretty fast this way.

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I don't think blinding someone would promote laser safety at all. If I did try and blind him it wouldn't make me in anyway justifiable to "promote laser safety" If he does shine it again(which he most likely will) I am thinking of kindly asking him to stop using it since these can be very dangerous, and as stated before, can blind someone.

PS: I over-heard a discussion where another student(who dosen't seem much smarter then him) was willing to give him $10 for the laser.

Show him a picture of that fella that got hit in the eye with a 1 W 445 (he has a thread here) and be like "Yo, this gon' be yo eye if ya dont knock it off".

In all seriousness, show him the picture, tell him the dangers of lasers, maybe even point him towards these forums.

crazyspaz said:

In all seriousness, show him the picture, tell him the dangers of lasers, maybe even point him towards these forums.

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While I agree that directing him to LPF may show him the need for safety, it may also open another can of worms. He may try to buy stronger lasers from us and show them off. Now it reminds me why LPF is so careful in accommodating noobs who post those "sell me your burning laser" requests!

Marco Polo said:

It's not worth the risk, do not ever trust your school administration to do the right thing - you will be setting yourself up for big disappointment.

Joe Richkid and the Numbnuts don't want to hear about how their lasers are dangerous. They don't care about facts. They will just consider you a pain in the ass if you try to tell them anything, no positive change will be accomplished, and at that point you're on Richkid's radar of grief and misery.

Avoid. Staying off Richkid's radar, and off the school admin's radar is the best bet.

ETA: If you haven't done so already, I would advise that you not let these idiots become aware that you have any high power lasers. Do not show them how to build one, definitely don't let them play with any. Don't let them know such things even exist. They will want one at that point, and spoiled brats get what they want. If those brats get into trouble, let it be for "fooling around with laser pointers", it's much better than a front-page headline such as "STUDENT BLINDS SELF, OTHERS WITH HIGH POWER HOMEBUILT LASER WEAPON".

Where did they learn about high power lasers like that, I wonder? Oh, right YOU told them about the stuff and even showed them one. Think the brats won't mention that at their hearing or whatever? Think again. Tell those kids about lasers and they will sell you out the MINUTE something goes wrong with that info and they will DENY that you ever told them any safety info. "It's not my fault, officer, he told me how to build the thing, he never said it was dangerous, I never would have played with it if I thought it was dangerous, HONEST, OFFICER!"

I can't say it strongly enough, AVOID this issue entirely.

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You read my mind Marco Polo, trouble looms if you involve yourself... :shhh:

Was I wrong thinking that at least most schools already put them on the zero tolerance list?-- If it can injury it is reckless endangerment- I would look for a way to stay out of the issue and yet do something to make a pro active change - even if that is a ban at school- 'reduce harm' must be number one. educate can come after-(good luck with that)- Only teachers need a laser at school--
last RGV trio from China- 12$ free ship- red 95mWW- 532 80mw 405 67mW- they die soon but last long enough to harm someone either directly or by other bad things that can follow..talk to your science teacher just about laser safety- see if he is up date with what can be gotten on Greed bay for 4$--let him connect the dots--

BUT...nobody likes an out n out snitch- best wishes-Len

Was I wrong thinking that at least most schools already put them on the zero tolerance list?-- If it can injury it is reckless endangerment- I would look for a way to stay out of the issue and yet do something to make a pro active change - even if that is a ban at school- 'reduce harm' must be number one. educate can come after-(good luck with that)- Only teachers need a laser at school--
last RGV trio from China- 12$ free ship- red 95mWW- 532 80mw 405 67mW- they die soon but last long enough to harm someone either directly or by other bad things that can follow..talk to your science teacher just about laser safety- see if he is up date with what can be gotten on Greed bay for 4$--let him connect the dots--

BUT...nobody likes an out n out snitch- best wishes-Len

The most infuriating thing about this situation is that it sounds like the school administration simply doesn't take lasers seriously. In my opinion the school should have a 'zero tolerance' policy regarding lasers just the same way they would about students bringing guns to school. The evil half of me says you oughtta get a 500mW 1064nM pen and discreetly hand out a few scotomas to a couple of teachers but that would not only be morally indefensible, but felony assault as well. (DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!) Maybe if some of these idiots with their overspec feebay pens cook their own retinas it might get some attention when their parents go ballistic.

But seriously, I think the school councilor is probably your best option. Show them the story about the kid in Israel. Show them the picture of Xoul's retina. Have them read the safety section of this forum. Get the issue 'on their radar'. Perhaps a formal letter to the principal with copies to every member of the school board signed by your parents (and maybe a lawyer) informing them that if you suffer any eye damage due to irresponsible use of lasers in school the lawsuit will be epic would get their attention. Money talks, and they do take liability seriously.

Good luck!

Do keep in mind, also, the potential harm you might do to this hobby by going for a "zero tolerance" policy on lasers in your school. I can see the headline now: "SCHOOL EXPANDS ZERO TOLERANCE WEAPONS POLICY TO INCLUDE BLINDING LASER PENS". Then the calls for laws/bans will start, and so it goes.

Please, just stay out of this and leave it between the school and the brats if something goes wrong. No need to go stirring up trouble for the sake of it, that helps no one. And if nothing goes wrong? Then there was never a problem; if it's not broken, don't fix it!

^^^ wish I could agree with you but...
Most here agree on a pro-active approach to laser safety and looking the other way when you know people could get harmed is not pro-active.. and waiting until something bad happens is NOT at all proactive. -- Most people I talk to doing something wrong with a laser honestly think if its for sale it MUST be safe and we all know that is untrue.

I still say let the science teachers know whats up and ask them to look into this but leave you out of what happens next..... Once all lasers are banned in school the problem changes-- its no longer an issue of what lasers are or are not dangerous as they all will NOT be permitted at school. I do not buy into the theory that making kids leave lasers at home will be greatly effecting us. (as long as we are no longer in school)--this make the phrase' turning a blind eye' quite profound... IMHO

Now that there is a big cash reward for turning in those who lase aircraft I think we will see less of that-- IIRC its $5000--

I could make a lot of lasers with 5000 dollars!!! Maybe I should go hang out at a high school with a camcorder and wait til an idiot thinks he is cool
Kidding of course, I wouldn't fuck over someone's life for 5000 dollars and an ignorant mistake. Gotta be at least 6K

wannaburnstuff said:

I could make a lot of lasers with 5000 dollars!!! Maybe I should go hang out at a high school with a camcorder and wait til an idiot thinks he is cool
Kidding of course, I wouldn't fuck over someone's life for 5000 dollars and an ignorant mistake. Gotta be at least 6K

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If you're ignorant enough to point a laser at an aircraft, well, you probably have no business even going to school. Can't teach an old rock dog tricks.

The issue here is not "laser safety" per se; the real issue is "behavior safety". These lasers are not dangerous in and of themselves, it's the behavior on the part of the brats that is dangerous. I can point my 1W 808nm at the wall all day long and nobody is going to get hurt... because the behavior is safe. I don't wave it around, I don't point it at people, I don't try to burn their property. I don't misuse it. Period. Lasers don't blind people. Stupid, misbehaving people blind people.

And I'm getting really fed up with people constantly comparing a laser to a loaded gun. THE TWO ARE NOTHING ALIKE, so stop it. Yes, a misused laser can cause a serious, permanent injury. So can a misused screwdriver; should we ban screwdrivers from shop class? Misused lab equipment can cause injuries, should we ban Bunsen burners from science class? Cars can injure or even kill someone (making a car more like a gun than a laser, btw), should high schoolers be banned from driving to school once they get their driver licenses? Even if they're safe drivers? BAN this, BAN that, fear, fear, FEAR... be afraid of EVERYTHING because EVERYTHING can hurt you, and EVERYTHING is a ticking time bomb just waiting to take you out.

TIRED OF IT. Remember all the dangerous playground equipment back in the day? How many kids got hurt on that? Compared to how many just had a good time due to being careful? Now it's all gone and recess sucks because of it.

It's no wonder school is such a hell-hole these days, what with the constant culture of fearing everything that can possibly cause an injury, and blaming the object itself instead of the operator. Glad I graduated in 2000; it was already going downhill then, and from my subbing experience it was obvious that it had only gotten worse since.

Yes, "ban lasers" from school because the lasers are going to jump up and start attacking everyone. That doesn't even make sense. Oh, you want to do a science project that uses a laser? Too bad, lasers are BANNED in school. Go mix some baking soda and vinegar and report on that instead.

If an issue needs to be addressed at all, it's the behavior safety. The brats should probably know what the devices they're using can do, and they should probably be told why it's a bad idea to just flash them around. I get that, I really do. It's sensible, and I'd be for bringing that to the admin on that basis... EXCEPT that school admins are NOT SENSIBLE; they will almost certainly make it about the lasers themselves, not the behavior. And then it's right back to BAN, BAN, BAN. And school will be even more of a test-teaching microcosm of a police state.

That's what education is being reduced to: Teaching the test, and banning everything that can be even remotely dangerous if misused. Read that word again: MISUSED. It's about behavior, not objects.

I do not support making school even more like a police state, even in the name of safety. I'm for truthful, honest education and "lasers are dangerous, so BAN BAN BAN" is neither honest, nor is it education. That attitude completely leaves behavior out of it. I cannot support addressing this issue to the school admin on this basis; I get where you're coming from but I just cannot support it.

And yes, if I thought everyone could be trusted to respect guns and not MISUSE them, I'd be for allowing those in school too. Call me crazy but I am tired of teaching kids that the only acceptable behavior is to be afraid.

ETA: And for those who are going to neg-rep me for this post - and I promise somebody will - let me state plainly: I'm FOR safety - safe behavior, through educated caution and prudent regard for the things that can potentially go wrong. I'm AGAINST safety through unconditional, unqualified TERROR combined with THREATS of punishment for those who disagree. Is that clear enough? Do I make sense?

hakzaw1 said:

Now that there is a big cash reward for turning in those who lase aircraft I think we will see less of that-- IIRC its $5000--

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I live super close to LAX and I've heard a LOT of hoopla about this. From what i've heard there is a $10,000 reward here. Unfortunately and this really boils my blood, i have about a 50:1 ratio of people's reactions, the 50 being people who say "OH MY GOD! Im totally gonna bust some guy and get that money son!", one being "yeah, good, people shouldn't be shooting lasers at airplanes"