Long lasting effects from laser strike (not the kind you think)

Good discussion in the comments section:

A three-second laser strike cost Barry Bowser everything | Ars Technica

There is a lesson here. But I certaintly think 21 months was over kill. But they do take laser strikes seriously so it's not a joke. Safety safety safety, if you don't know where the beam is going, don't!

Obviously it's harmful to point lasers at anyone or vehicle, but I've never understood why pilots get so many privileges. Airspace is restricted for them, certain radio frequencies are for them, so much for them. What gives them right to the sky. They make the choice to fly or not. I feel the government needs to back off slightly, but then again, malicious laser users should face punishment, so I'm not sure where I stand on this.

My cousin went to jail for hitting a helicopter too, while it wasn't intended as an attack or knowingly, the law does not seem to care, if they can sting you they will. I used to work in law enforcement and guarantee you these guys are law preditors, their job or not, they enjoy using the law to bust peoples lives.

Crazlaser said:

.......but I've never understood why pilots get so many privileges. Airspace is restricted for them, certain radio frequencies are for them, so much for them. What gives them right to the sky. .......

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Maybe because a blinding event at the wrong time can kill hundreds of people? It's not like you can just stop the plane and step out.

I'm sure you meant something else, it just didn't come out that way.

Zathras said:

Maybe because a blinding event at the wrong time can kill hundreds of people? It's not like you can just stop the plane and step out.

I'm sure you meant something else, it just didn't come out that way.

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Yes, I guess I'm saying I wish it was something laser users did out of common courtesy, rather than fear of impending imprisonment, however that won't happen in this world. That's what governments are for.

The sentencing in this case was pretty ridiculous. Obvious accidental lasing with no malicious intent to cause harm, and the pilot wasn't harmed. I fully agree with throwing the book at the people who are doing this intentionally and targeting planes coming in for a landing, but this is ridiculous. The really sad part is how his dog had to be put down when he was sent to prison. NOBODY has even died yet from a laser related incident, and the penalties are much harsher than those for things which kill people all the time such as driving drunk/running red lights/speeding etc.

if you're a rich kid you can drive drunk and kill 4 people, then get off with probation. If you're a poor ex con and accidentally hit a helicopter with a laser for a second or two you get thrown in prison for years. Welcome to the American injustice system.

Razako said:

Welcome to the American injustice system.

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^Ditto

It seems very unjust indeed.

The US system seems to have a great desire to throw people into prison for minor crimes. There are many explanations for that, but none are any good.

Have a look at how these things are treated in (most of) europe. If you shine a laser into an aircraft flight deck by accident and noone is injured, let alone killed, a prison sentence would be out of the question unless you somehow intended to maim or harm someone but failed to achieve that.

The punishment here would be a fine, and perhaps some community service if the judge suspected some malicious intent.

Americans should really worry about such things with a state running a for-profit jail system combined with jury trials, and also having a system where the state spends a lot more money on prosecution than on defense.

Benm said:

It seems very unjust indeed.

Americans should really worry about such things with a state running a for-profit jail system combined with jury trials, and also having a system where the state spends a lot more money on prosecution than on defense.

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Damn right, and spending far more money on prosecution than defense says a lot, it says our system of law is preditorial.

I feel, don't get me wrong that there is a rather large industry around jail/ justice system in the US.
Free labour market by inmates and all the equipment used by law enforcement is great for business.

The story is pretty ridiculous. This guy does have past history with LE for Drugs and armed robbery. Getting the guy on a laser offence is an excuse by LE to deal final blow to him and lock him up.

I am sure that happens, that prosecutors weigh a persons past to decide on whether to go after them or not. An argument can be made the law should be predatorial, to go after the law breakers and I can see that, but I do think the playing field is far too slanted towards filling peoples stomachs who work in the system far more than being justice.

Seoul_lasers said:

I feel, don't get me wrong that there is a rather large industry around jail/ justice system in the US.
Free labour market by inmates and all the equipment used by law enforcement is great for business.

The story is pretty ridiculous. This guy does have past history with LE for Drugs and armed robbery. Getting the guy on a laser offence is an excuse by LE to deal final blow to him and lock him up.

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You are absolutely correct In a sense, the private prison industrial system is a return of slavery. Lock people up in prison over minor offenses, remove their voting/firearm rights, and then get free labor from them while they're in prison.

Law enforcement also reaps a significant amount of assets/cash from citizens via civil forfeiture laws. American law enforcement is often extremely predatory in nature, with too much focus on locking people up and seizing their assets over victimless crimes.
Read "Taken" for more info.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/08/12/taken?currentPage=All

Razako said:

You are absolutely correct In a sense, the private prison industrial system is a return of slavery. Lock people up in prison over minor offenses, remove their voting/firearm rights, and then get free labor from them while they're in prison.

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Not just 'in a sense', it just IS slavery, possible under worse conditions than the original plantation type of thing.

I'm fine with putting murderes, thieves, rapists and what not in prison for some time. But the reality is that most people in US prisons are there on convictions for drug related offenenses, most of them possession of rather small amounts that could/should be considered for personal use.

And it is idiotic how the 'intent to distribute' is established. So what if someone has a months worth of narcotics for personal use in their posession. You don't go to the pharmacy to get prescription-only medication one pill a time every day either.

I think you'd have to prove actual distribution instead of intent based on the amount someone has stashed. If someone has an ounce of cocaine or cannabis at home, it's perfectly feasible they bought that amount as a supply for a month of personal use but got it in larger quantity because that's cheaper. Most prescription drugs are sold in 3 month scripts, noone gives a shit about that.

In case you think this is all BS: The US has by a very large margin the largest percentage of it's population in prison compared to any other developed country. Compared to western european countries the US has about 10 times more prisoners per population - and it's not that europe doesn't have any drugs, gangs, rapes, murders, thefts etc.

I've come to see what you are talking about over the last 20 years that America is not free, is not ethical and instead of being a force of peace in the world, has been a source of terror for many people. Why? Because instead of using defense to protect ourselves, it is used as a tool to get what "we" want, our presidents and media constantly lying to us about threats to get support for what they want done. Is this radical or clear thinking? I think I see things for what they have been, but with the job I have now pushing back ISIS, I think this one is legit.

I suppose american intervention is always under scrutiny, and often rightfully so. Things like supplying weapons to certain factions in the middle east have cause far more problems then they have solved, often resulting in the opposite effect of what was even intended.

As for the direct battle on ISIS by bombing their assets and such i'd probably say that is the right thing to do. A broad range of countries tends to agree and is joining in that effort, and it seems to be working.

The thing I wonder about is what the US will do when ISIS is destroyed. This will leave a new power vacuum in the region and i presume the US has some faction in mind it wants to take over when the time comes.

Then again, given the barbaric behaviour of ISIL stopping that ASAP would be a good thing at least for now.