Yes, that's what I was also saying a few post back, it's very unlikely that any of us will ever face a maniac shooter, but we will deal with people who have had a bad day, so carrying a laser with self defense in mind could turn into blinding someone over a fist fight, it's not something that we ever want to hear about happening as it wont end well for anyone, also a shooter can fire bullets in your direction even if they cant see well or at all, but again a pointer should not be carried as a defensive weapon, it can turn the good guy into the bad guy in court regardless of why it happened.
Now before anyone says : But you can carry a gun for self defense. Yes that's because a firearm is designed to produce deadly force, a pointer can at best produce a cruel maiming.
The thing we must all understand is if you're a firearms owner the use of deadly force is a last ditch effort to only be used if you are reasonably in fear for your life, or to stop a forcible felony in some states, also some states have a " duty to retreat " law and even in my state where we have a " stand your ground " law it's understood that every attempt must be made to avoid a confrontation.
If someone grabs the shopping cart you had your hand on 1st and then insults your mother you are expected to say something like, sorry you feel that way, and walk away, you can't shoot someone because they hit you back first.
This is where carrying a laser as a possible means to stop a terrorist could turn into something used in a fist fight, if you can't be the better man or woman and walk away from a belligerent person then don't carry, not a gun or a knife or a water pistol full of battery acid, because blinding someone with a homemade laser or a squirt gun full of battery acid will likely be looked at under the same light in court.
Personally I would rather get punched in the nose and walk away than kill someone although I will defend my 75 year old father or my girlfriend as necissary, but if you face a disparity of force, meaning 2 against 1 or if you are elderly or have physical disability then you have a valid reason to use deadly force ( Know your State laws ) in a 1 on 1 encounter, but you are not in self defense if you provoke or step into the fray, to be within your rights you must first have tried to walk away, except when defending a loved one from attack.
It may seem crazy but carrying an implement that can only produce a cruel maiming ( blindness ) rather than flat out killing can and likely would be deemed as an intent to maim because you chose to carry and used it to maim in a confrontation. Also you can defend yourself with a gun without firing it, but again if you make a threat of force while holding a weapon you had better be in the right and that means walking away from a confrontation without provoking, but a bright flashlight and pepper spray gives you more latitude as your intent is not to kill or maim, only defend, still you must be in the right if you use it.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer, this is my opinion and correct to the best of my knowledge, you alone are responsible for knowing the law and for your actions.
