These are the Laws I think should be in place for lasers in the US

brendon7358 said:

Well I do not think 100mW Over 18 only and requires Laser License would be fair sure there are a lot of immature teenagers out there but not all of them are, I myself am 16 and Therefore I would only be able to use a <99mw laser ? I would be fine with taking a laser safety class but I think the limit should be around <300mw minimum for under 18.

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I mean no offense or disrespect to you at all when I say this: There are many factors which determine how irresponsible a person will be with a laser, but people of the sub-18 age group tend to exhibit most of them. In other words, I don't trust the average teenager to have the wisdom or logical thought processes neccessary to safely operate a high power laser.

Benm said:

I don't see why age should be a factor at all.

If you go for a licensing scheme, just passing the required exam should be sufficient to allow a person to operate a laser of the allowed power level that comes with it.

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Age requirements help to discourage potential applicants and also it helps to make it even harder for someone younger to pass the exam. "Why bother even getting the license if I can only get 100mW!" In fact, now that I think about it 100mW may be too high for the under 18, perhaps 40mW is better, they can't burn anything then.

Benm said:

In reality i doubt it would be effective though... i've taken and passed several required exams to work with things or in sectors (from radiological safety to running a bar) and found the mandatory exams to be extremely simple.

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The kind of testing I had in mind was not that of drivers permit or hunting license or even your average safety exam. I had in mind something more akin to the Extra Class HAM exam - technically challenging enough and vast enough that your average joe who want's "a cool laser" cannot possibly pass it without doing a lot of reading.

grenadier said:

You all do realize that if somebody even suggests laser laws to congress that every laser > class II would be banned from civilian ownership, right?

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I would NEVER advocate approaching lawmakers with the idea to regulate or restrict our hobby unless it was already threatend with heavy unguided legislation. You're absolutely correct, they would rip them from our hands in a heartbeat. It is far easier for them to outlaw something than it is to regulate it. If we were given the choice of heavy regulation or outright banning I would advocate strict regulation. Those who REALLY want to take part in the hobby would only be inconvenienced initially and then would have a presentable proof of their eligibility and qualification to own and use lasers safely. Having a measureable base of registered and licensed users also helps to keep something legal. It gives clear-cut lines for lawmakers and police to focus on. No longer would it be hard for them to differentiate between us and the foolish stupid kids who cause all the problems for us.

grenadier said:

You all do realize that if somebody even suggests laser laws to congress that every laser > class II would be banned from civilian ownership, right?

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Yes, DO NOT suggest ANY laws. What you are doing by doing that is giving them the power to take ANY of your liberties away from you.

There are certainly dangers involved with lasers, everyone knows that. There are more injuries a day on children's playgrounds than there are a year from lasers, and some of those playground injuries are probably adults!!! Should we suggest that children (and adults) meet a certain age and pass a playground safety class before they can play on the playground? If you suggested that to the government, you bet your ass they would pass a bill requiring a license to play on a playground.

Its actually our job to PREVENT government from taking our liberties, not empowering them to do so.

There are certainly laws that are necessary, laser laws really arent in that category.

Hello -- I'm from the government and I'm here to help and protect you.
I'll decide what you need just as I always do so well.
Trust me ----------
HM

Be careful what you ask for --- You may get it --------------
in the @$$

Hemlock_Mike said:

Hello -- I'm from the government and I'm here to help and protect you.
I'll decide what you need just as I always do so well.
Trust me ----------
HM

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You for got one.....

"Theres a $250 fine for me helping you, and a 10% tax on the fine, but you have to pay with credit, cash is no good, so you will have to cover the 25% interest rate as well as the monthly service fee of $5 for these types of transactions" ...... "Oh, and you will have to go downstairs and see the other agent so he can tack on his $32 for doing the paperwork for these fees"

Education, not regulation, is the key.

The current laws are actually enough to deal true morons. In some cases the penalty should be less IMO, in some a whole lot more.

Also age should have nothing to do with it. Stupidity has no age limit unfortunately.

Thar's all I need is to have to go get another license, it would be such a hassle to get everybody's license so you could import a laser. Not to mention what this might do to the builders. If I have to get a license for my lasers I will give up the my laser hobby.
Do not give congress the idea. It's probably to late they may have already seen this thread.:knight:

InfinitusEquitas said:

Education, not regulation, is the key.

The current laws are actually enough to deal true morons. In some cases the penalty should be less IMO, in some a whole lot more.

Also age should have nothing to do with it. Stupidity has no age limit unfortunately.

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Absolutely!!! However, you cant take the kid out of the kid. Kids will be kids, especially around other kids, even the big ones (adults), and no matter the education or regulation, it will still happen, if not more.

Sputnic has the right idea ...
$250 +10% +$5 +$32 = $312 -----

5 mW pointer -- $12
Taxes and whatever paperwork and registration -- $312

Total -- $324 PRICELESS

HMike

BHO may have found a new revenue source !!!!

^^^You guys are forgetting about the yearly registration renewal feels, and the tax hike in order to support a whole new subset of government idiocy....whoops meant bureaucracy.

Of course after that doesn't work, there will the be need for a super committee to address the issue.

Worked out great last time....

Oh wait. I must have been thinking about some over economy:scowl:

I know I'm going a bit OT with this, but here's a bit of food for thought...

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty"

IE --
What a truly radical idea !!
Sorry -- It won't work anymore.
HMike

"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE"

Yeah, this whole thing is a stupid idea and if it happens I know who to blame!

InfinitusEquitas said:

^^^You guys are forgetting about the yearly registration renewal feels, and the tax hike in order to support a whole new subset of government idiocy....whoops meant bureaucracy.

Of course after that doesn't work, there will the be need for a super committee to address the issue.

Worked out great last time....

Oh wait. I must have been thinking about some over economy:scowl:

I know I'm going a bit OT with this, but here's a bit of food for thought...

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty"

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Yea, your right. They will need a whole new department in DHLS they will need to support with the new revenues generated from the new LDAA (Laser Defense Act of America).

They will add anyone with a laser >5mw to the no fly list.

They will nearly throw you in Gitmo now for carrying more than one sack of potatoes. More than one sack would be seen as intent to use as a terrorist weapon. Heck, if you have more than a few days of food in your home you would be seen as an "extremest" (read--- terrorist)

@HM - Funny thing is, when most people think of the government, they think of it as one monolithic entity, with unlimited resources and power.

At the end of the day though, 95% and more of that government is made up of rather ordinary people who feel no love for it.

Might not happen in our lifetimes, and if/when it does it might not be for the better, but I do believe you're wrong. Governments will fear their people again.

Sputnik77 said:

Yea, your right. They will need a whole new department in DHLS they will need to support with the new revenues generated from the new LDAA (Laser Defense Act of America).

They will add anyone with a laser >5mw to the no fly list.

They will nearly throw you in Gitmo now for carrying more than one sack of potatoes. More than one sack would be seen as intent to use as a terrorist weapon.

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Those potato guns can be pretty nasty.:eg:
The next thing you know they are going to want you to get a license to fart, due to toxic emisions (SBD'S).

No more beans for you!

IE --- I hope so.............
Finis .............
HMike

Why "no criminal record" ?
What criminal activity takes place using lasers ?