Portable Lasers as a Defensive/Offensive Weapon

AirmanPika said:

And if you don't have a gun? Then what? I'd use whatever I have at my disposal to put a home invader down. You make a good point on the issue of possibly blinding yourself though with the higher power stuff.

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BUY A GUN.

Connormgs said:

Billm0066, advising firing a shotgun without aiming, you are intelligent.

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You are even less intelligent for not reading my post. I said you barely need to aim because the shotgun will spread. Aim in a general vicinity and that person will go down. I dont need to go into safety aspects about other people or animals being around. I assumed people would get that, but I guess I was wrong.

billm0066 said:

BUY A GUN.



You are even less intelligent for not reading my post. I said you barely need to aim because the shotgun will spread. Aim in a general vicinity and that person will go down. I dont need to go into safety aspects about other people or animals being around. I assumed people would get that, but I guess I was wrong.

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When "guns" enter a conversation, some people's brain shut off. :tinfoil:

Peace,
dave

2-You'll probably flashblind yourself at the same time.
3-If you miss his eyes and he has a gun you're dead.
4-You'd probably be better off with a HID flashlight to daze him and then run away and call the cops.

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With an unfocused beam like a 445 since its elongated would be probably not flash blind you and it would be hard to miss the eyes of an attacker as even at close range I can get a very wide spot. Then this would almost be an HID flashlight. I dunno though... I have a gun but honestly don't know what action I would take. I think it all depends on the situation.

billm0066 said:

A laser as a defensive weapon is just plain stupid. If someone breaks into my house they will not leave alive. Simple as that. In Michigan we have what's called a castle doctrine. If they break into my home I have every right to use deadly force. Im not gonna sit there like some nerd and try to aim a laser in their eye while they have a knife or a gun. Can you imagine how bad you will blind yourself but firing up an arctic in a dark house after you have been asleep for a few hours? My suggestion is to buy a gun and keep it in a safe in your house. You can buy a decent used revolver for a few hundred, and a safe for another $100. Or if you really want good self defense buy a shotgun and keep it loaded with buckshot. You barely need to aim and you would could easily kill an intruder. If you ever come into a situation like this, it's always best to use deadly force, because there is no one to testify against you.

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Everyone says they could kill someone if they broke into their house.. But when the moment comes to pull the trigger, who knows. Using a laser to flash blind someone would need a lot less consideration than ending someones life. :undecided:

billm0066 said:

BUY A GUN.



You are even less intelligent for not reading my post. I said you barely need to aim because the shotgun will spread. Aim in a general vicinity and that person will go down. I dont need to go into safety aspects about other people or animals being around. I assumed people would get that, but I guess I was wrong.

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I get what you are saying, but taking a bit of of seems like a good idea...

Bird shot load is all you need to defend yourself. Pump a couple of loads into anyone and they will run, but not die.

How come all these threads keep popping up on using lasers for weapons?

Curious said:

Everyone says they could kill someone if they broke into their house.. But when the moment comes to pull the trigger, who knows. Using a laser to flash blind someone would need a lot less consideration than ending someones life. :undecided:

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If someone broke into my house with the intent to do harm to me, my gf, or my pets then I would have no issue ending their life. I know it's a harsh thing to say, but I don't feel someone like this should have the right to live. It really depends on the situation too. If some drunk guy kicked my door in because he thought it was his house or something then I wouldn't pull the trigger. If he had a weapon then it's a different story. It's not like i'm a heartless person. I just feel the legal system is screwed up in the US. We are paying way too much money for people to have a decent life in jail even if they commit horrible crimes.

So lets say you get lucky and are able to flash blind someone with your laser. Chances are you will only hit one eye, so he still has another eye. Even if you get both what is your next step? He has a weapon and chances are he will start swinging or shooting it in your general direction. Police in my city would probably take 3-5 minutes to get to my house, and I live in a good area. Would I try to subdue the attacker and hope he doesn't hit me with his weapon? What if I hit him with a bat and break his jaw, or cause permanent damage to him. Chances are he will then try to sue me and probably win. Even if he gets jail for a few years, what will stop him from coming back? I know guns aren't for everyone, but I they are definitely for me.

When I took the required class for a concealed handgun permit about 10 years ago, I learned a few interesting things. The things they tell you are simple. If you are defending yourself you WILL go to court. Not might, will. The prosecuting attorney will do their job and try to cast you in the worst light possible. If you use something odd to defend yourself, especially weird ammo. Then they argue that you so much wanted to kill someone that you bought special ammo to do it with. Sometimes they win. If so, someone defending themselves goes to jail for murder or at least manslaughter. They tend to use odd methods for self defense against you in the USA courts system. *shrug*
The next thing they tell you is always shoot to kill. If you aim for a leg to disable someone, then they argue that you had time to think, and could have found another solution to the problem short of hurting them. In which case you still go to jail. The rules at least in utah for self defense cases require you to be in immediate complete fear for life or serious injury to yourself or another. I assume if you blind someone or cause permanent damage to their vision, it would be treated the same as saying you had time to think, and therefore were not in enough worry to use that kind of force.

Meh if you use a laser as self defense, there is no direct law against it. However, expect to have to defend yourself in court. Also expect the prosecutor to spin things as bad for you as they can. While your costly attorney tried to spin things as good for you as they can. Then it comes down to which attorney is better, and the personal opinions of those in the jury. (unless you accept a plea bargain, in which case you are definitely convicted, just of a lesser crime)

Seems like a lot of hassle and risk and uncertainty to go through, when a firearm can be purchased for less then the price of an arctic. Besides. Who knows if anyone is ever going to GET an arctic to lase someones face with. If you want an optical dazzler. Use a high powered flashlight. You can get a lot of power into a small package that way, reduced risk of permanent blinding, get a beam wide enough to hit the entire head for certain, and it's hard to spin a flashlight into a severe negative light for prosecuting attorneys.......

Everyone is a big man till they have to actually take the life. Even if you could do it, you'd have it hanging in your sub-conscious for the rest of your life. Unless you have military background, I'd think of other ways to defend your family. If someone is there to mean you harm, they will have already reacted before you could ever fumble the gun to point it. The intense adrenaline rush will prevent you from acting accordingly, unless you've had previous experience, like the military. So save the Jose Whales impersonations. I've been in that situation a few times, and its nothing like you think.

Tech_Junkie said:

Bird shot load is all you need to defend yourself. Pump a couple of loads into anyone and they will run, but not die.

How come all these threads keep popping up on using lasers for weapons?

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These threads are popping up because the danger is a reality and the popularity of lasers is growing.

As I said in my earlier post, its a matter of time. The same meatheads that flash 50mW lasers at planes and people will now have 1W to wave around. Those meatheads will only serve to influence other meatheads to do the same.

Not something to take lightly when there is so much potential, and the anonymity of distance.

This whole WL 200$ laser is going to cause more than enough problems if they actually do ship them. I was happy to see NOVA pull theirs from sale. A very responsible move.

billm0066 said:

If someone broke into my house with the intent to do harm to me, my gf, or my pets then I would have no issue ending their life. I know it's a harsh thing to say, but I don't feel someone like this should have the right to live. It really depends on the situation too. If some drunk guy kicked my door in because he thought it was his house or something then I wouldn't pull the trigger. If he had a weapon then it's a different story. It's not like i'm a heartless person. I just feel the legal system is screwed up in the US. We are paying way too much money for people to have a decent life in jail even if they commit horrible crimes.

So lets say you get lucky and are able to flash blind someone with your laser. Chances are you will only hit one eye, so he still has another eye. Even if you get both what is your next step? He has a weapon and chances are he will start swinging or shooting it in your general direction. Police in my city would probably take 3-5 minutes to get to my house, and I live in a good area. Would I try to subdue the attacker and hope he doesn't hit me with his weapon? What if I hit him with a bat and break his jaw, or cause permanent damage to him. Chances are he will then try to sue me and probably win. Even if he gets jail for a few years, what will stop him from coming back? I know guns aren't for everyone, but I they are definitely for me.

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I have a couple of guns and I love them but I don't think I could kill someone with them. If someone did break into my house and had a gun or a knife and was trying to attack me then he's dead... But what if he doesn't have a weapon in his hand? Do you just assume he has one? I would probably use a taser but most people probably don't have one. Everyone on this site has a laser though.

BlueMeanie445 said:

These threads are popping up because the danger is a reality and the popularity of lasers is growing.

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1. There is only one company producing the 1W laser, and they are having problems getting them shipped.. Other companies have dropped the idea because of all the bad press.
2. Its a flash in the pan. When most people get their first laser, they play with it off an on for a week, then it ends up in a draw.
3. Once the 1W lasers hit the market most countries are going to ban them. They will have watch lists, and with only one company selling those, they wont be hard to miss from customs.

Of course there will be some issues of miss use, but that comes with everything. The guns situations is 90% worst, yet you can still get a gun if you really want it.

You're making mountains out of mole hills. Everything will be fine.

Tech_Junkie said:

Everyone is a big man till they have to actually take the life. Even if you could do it, you'd have it hanging in your sub-conscious for the rest of your life. Unless you have military background, I'd think of other ways to defend your family. If someone is there to mean you harm, they will have already reacted before you could ever fumble the gun to point it. The intense adrenaline rush will prevent you from acting accordingly, unless you've had previous experience, like the military. So save the Jose Whales impersonations. I've been in that situation a few times, and its nothing like you think.

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You didnt say my name, but I knew this was referred to me. You dont know me, and you have no idea who I am or the type of person I am. Before I got my ccw I was robbed at knife point in Detroit when I got a flat tire. If I had my gun I would have used and not regretted it for a second. The guy who robbed me is scum and nothing more. Trust me when I say I have no problem using my gun if the situation calls for it. This is not a tough guy on the internet thing. I do a lot of work in Detroit now which is why I have a ccw and carry with me daily. I don't pick fights and don't look for trouble, but I am prepared if it finds me. I really hope it never comes down to it though. Lawyers are very expensive.

Again why would you assume I would fumble my gun? You assume things without knowing me. I train with my weapon, and have been in situations where my adrenaline is pumping with and without a weapon. I can handle myself, and would not fumble my gun when someone breaks into my house. Go preach to someone else instead of talking out of your a**.

I was talking generally. I hear this crap all the time.

If you would have killed that guy, you'd probably be in jail right now, and have regretted it. You cant say "if", because you can never think of all the angles that could have happened in any one situation. You could went for the gun and he stabs you in the throat. "IF" is an empty word. You really have nothing to prove, or be defensive of. Its not a metal of honor because you are willing to kill someone. Kind of shows lack of restraint, and ignorance actually. Why chance your life (loss, or jail) over some pocket change? If anything just showing a gun to a knife wielding thug is enough. Once again, cool down Jose.