Yes the punishment is a tad harsh, but I think the kid will get parole after a few months provided he behaves.
I thinking the judge decided to use him as an example to others thinking of lasing aircraft.
Think I heard it say no parole in not less than 18 months, ouch.
He was for sure made an example of, sucks for him. But arguing "could have been" in court? He had a very poor attorney.
Plus there is NO WAY< NOOOO WAAY to bring down a plane or chopper with a laser.
There is a reason we have never heard of such a thing, as it is just unrealistic.
No more light makes it in a cockpit from such distances and angles thru aircraft glass than a cheapo LED flashlight would give off if lit right in the cockpit.
You can clearly see the chopper never veared, dove, or otherwise changed its direction during said laser attack, other than to follow the subjects, LOL'
If I recall, this is the story that said the chopper was forced to land, when the story first broke, yet it followed the subjects first with no problems, LOL.
No, don't do it, as it is dangerous as a distraction, but no more than any flash of lightining around. LOL.
His attorney sucked, LOL.
And to those 2 Airline guys who got millions from a settlement, saying that the laser attack they survived while flying gave them instant permanent eye damage, and won the suite, I call just as stupid as the idiots who create this mess, and deserving more than 4 years in jail...
I ask which was a worse crime???
The kid who did no real harm or damage, or the jerks cashing in millions and laughing all the time knowing they had eye issues all along and found a way to capitalize from it by lying.
Just my 7 cents.
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