FDAs Proposed Ban Of Laser Pointers

[Alaskan]

Be afraid, be very afraid

 

[Radim]

Alot of members seem to think the "eyes" are following this forum?
Is it time for some to tone down their signatures?

GSS, I do not think there are any eyes watching us (maybe only those looking for tereorists and so). I just meant that in case of FDA regulation with total ban is considered and discussed, US LPF community could gather to approach some listening polititians with letter introducing the laser hobby, community of responsible, educated and passionated users, stating problems of total ban pushing community to illegality and consequences of potential technology developement being pushed down in long term as less young people might have access to lasers, less students with passion in lasers, less... You can continue... (Here they may hear as technology developement is creating competetive advantage.) Further there shuld be a proposal of regulation adjustment - laser hobby clubs issuing licenses after some education to that member has been done. Something like driving school. For car you also need license. If you could choose between total ban and license exception on portables, what would you go for?

One example: In my country there was anti-smoking law considered and discussed and in original version (which did not pass) all bars and restaurants there was no smoking allowed. The problem was with tea rooms. Special bars/restaurants with unique and relaxing/meditative atmosphere, where tea and exotic cousine is served and water pipes - shishas. Tea rooms are very popular here and a lot of people go there for shisha. Still they are not nearly as popular as pubs (beer nation). For some tea rooms significant to major part of turnover is from shishas. In original law, if applied, they would be forced to close because of lack of income to cover the running costs. In updated version of law (in force since end of last month) shishas are excluded. All thanks to people pushing on polititians to exclude shishas.

Here the problem with small community is. Anyway in case of total ban on portables I see it as only way how to keep hobby legal. Last attempt...

 

[lasersbee]

GSS, I do not think there are any eyes watching us (maybe only those looking for tereorists and so).

No offense but...
You haven't been here long enough to know
if big brother is watching the Forum or not.

It had been pointed out at one point that the
assumption that we were being watched back
then was a real possibility. This during the time
that WL was put on the "Illegal Laser Import
List" by big brother.

I would rather be cautious than not believe it....


Jerry

 

[Radim]

No offense but...
You haven't been here long enough to know
if big brother is watching the Forum or not.

It had been pointed out at one point that the
assumption that we were being watched back
then was a real possibility. This during the time
that WL was put on the "Illegal Laser Import
List" by big brother.

I would rather be cautious than not believe it....


Jerry

Really? That is interesting. Did they chase members in US claiming they got WL?

BTW I just said "I do not think", so "to think" does not equal "to know". No offense as well.

Edit: Jerry, just to let you know - I had been watching LPF for many years before I registered last year in August, even after I was not active some time. Whatever WL's marketing (in Arctic times) took me to idea to look for some laser. It was before they were banned to import to US. But I did not register the information you provided. If I'm not wrong - I know about LPF like about nine ten years (maybe eleven?). When I was searching some stuff about lasers on internet it took me here. From time to time I watched something here as lasers were sleeping passion next to my other interests in science. I remember I looked on 532 nm Krypton (but I remember looking also on their earlier lasers) as potential first laser to acquire (yes, no mistake, that DPSS). But it was really expensive for me as student. Later I decided for some laser to get finally. It was 2013 and just before Christmass I got my 532 nm Sky Lasers and some green pointer. After years of consideration. My first salary (as full time) was almost all spent on it. Unfortunately as I underestimated glasses selection I was scared to use it. Some personal stuff came and I got back to lasers like end of the spring 2016. I decided to get proper eyesafety wear. In summer I got my Evo from WL (knowing LPF I was here often - but not registered). I took WL as bet. I checked that company quite a lot. I did a little due diligence on them to be honest. All that because I was not happy throwing my earned money with them. Evo showed as best bet I could did. I love that laser. Best product from them (review is in early concept stage). Further - I describe more in my intro.

Sorry, for being so long, I just wanted to put it in right context for you.

 

[lasersbee]

Really? That is interesting. Did they chase members in US claiming they got WL?

BTW I just said "I do not think", so "to think" does not equal "to know". No offense as well.

Sorry, for being so long, I just wanted to put it in right context for you.

Ouch... looks like I hit a nerve... Sorry....
Don't be so touchy.... You stated a fact as you
know it at the time of your post.
I responded with what I know and/or remember....

Like I said... No offense intended just a heads up
from someone that was here.:beer:


Jerry

 

[Radim]

Ouch... looks like I hit a nerve... Sorry....
Don't be so touchy.... You stated a fact as you
know it at the time of your post.
I responded with what I know and/or remember....

Like I said... No offense intended just a heads up
from someone that was here.:beer:


Jerry

No, you did not. I'm calm as usually. Nothing to be sorry about, Jerry. The fact is I'm member shortly and even less time being active, so I cannot know what was happening here. As I was not nearly here like let's say recently.

And sorry for being inaccurate with that, I'm not English native speaker.

BTW: I'm still learning here and as there are so many great members doing "lasering" practically (some even professionaly) long time, there is always a lot to study here. I love build threads of any kind (portables, special lasers...), maybe once far in the future I take some courage to do my own (soldering some parts together and putting them into some nice host with optics). Maybe... Just saying example I see a lot of people much more experienced in laser stuff than me here... Really no need for apology, as you now see how I take it.

 

[Razako]

Alot of members seem to think the "eyes" are following this forum?
Is it time for some to tone down their signatures?

Seems a little silly to me:undecided: I could only see somebody getting in trouble if they were running a big importation and selling operation. Just showing what lasers you own, or selling them in the BST section isn't gonna be of much concern to the govt.

 

[CE5]

I do not feel an outright ban will be implemented.
Since this would only further encourage the black marketeers, and make the enforcement of any new regulations even more difficult. IMO, this would also not serve as an effective deterrent, rather the opposite effect would most likely occur- that being the result of actually attracting attention by creating a 'taboo' aura relating to such devices and luring in individuals with nefarious intentions that might not have otherwise existed as a motivating factor before such a 'ban' was instituted.

At most, any immediate or foreseeable actions from the Gov, may be to institute minimum age limit requirements and perhaps by devising some form of registration for such devices as they may deem appropriate.

And as demonstrated by the controversial patriotic actions of Edward Snowden, that has revealed, "big brothers all seeing eye' is a tacit fact. And such surveillance is not limited to any particular subject (s) matters or that other foreign and domestic actors are also likewise engaged in surveillance activities with even less publicly or otherwise undisclosed agendas also factually exist.

Welcome to the 'Brave New World' people.

 

[paul1598419]

Many years ago I worked for a law enforcement agency, one thing they really love are more laws and the ability to crush people who violate them. I've seen a federal employee jump for joy when he found he could cite someone for a small infraction, personally getting off on the ability to push his will upon him. These folk see the laws they enforce as something personal as their authority and you know how human beings are when they think they have the right to stomp on someone, they often do.

This has been my experience as well over many years. People who join law enforcement seem to revel in their ability to make other people's lives miserable. It isn't a fact with all of them, but holds true for what seems to be a majority. Sometimes I feel that the people that are hired to do this kind of work should be disqualified for their "meanness" gene that seems to pervade among them.

 

[Richie89]

Only we can do here is to rise awareness of laser safety, responsibility and grow our communite here IMO. The more people in the hobby using lasers responsibly, the more chance their voice will be heard and regulation therefore will include some form of expception for those qualified hobbyists. No need from FDA or any other subject to require some absolute bans. It is not that complicated to use high powered laser safe way. Still I do not see it realistic as seeing quite a few people active on LPF. At least now...

I definitely think you're right. The responsible people probably outweigh the irresponsible people, hopefully. it's sad to think other people ruining it for others.

Alot of members seem to think the "eyes" are following this forum?
Is it time for some to tone down their signatures?

It's weird, in a way I kinda hope they are, because they would probably see that we all here on LPF are much different than most people that do stupid stuff, I'll put money on that 95% of us on this forum treat these lasers like Firearms. Very carefully
Maybe you're right about the signature part, we should erase all output power and just put 5mw on all of them :crackup:

 

[Encap]

Yeah, they should ban all matches too. Few billion fires started accidentally all over the globe.
-Think all those unlucky people who died in those fires...

And cars/automobiles, too---43,000 people, in USA, are killed in car accidents every year, approximately. Cars are a plague--deathtraps and weapons on wheels. Public transprotation is a better choice/way to go.

Alot of members seem to think the "eyes" are following this forum?
Is it time for some to tone down their signatures?

 

[Alaskan]

You got my vote, evil vehicles that they are. Lots of things kill people every year, we need a long list to outlaw... Although, as long as we are at it, I wonder how many laws kill people too? Get rid of them, police offers chasing offenders breaking the law gets some of them killed.

I'm not too concerned about what we post here in this simple hobby, but if I were selling high powered laser pointers to US customers as a commercial supplier, I'd be very quiet. However, better to err on the side of caution, agreed. I also see law enforcement agencies attract predatorial personalities far too much. Psychological tests would help weed some of them out, need individuals without a hot iron in the fire ready to strike out whenever possible for the sake of attacking due to being mean SOB's.

 

[Razako]

I've often suspected that LE as a profession tends to attract a lot of the bullies and jocks from High School. I mean what else does the football player who's not good enough to play professionally, and too stupid to do anything else useful do? I'm sure it's also attractive to the sociopathic bullies who want to continue making life hell for people in their adulthood.

It's not that all cops are bad people, but the profession sure seems to attract a lot of the bad apples.

 

[dden4012]

I've often suspected that LE as a profession tends to attract a lot of the bullies and jocks from High School. I mean what else does the football player who's not good enough to play professionally, and too stupid to do anything else useful do? I'm sure it's also attractive to the sociopathic bullies who want to continue making life hell for people in their adulthood.

It's not that all cops are bad people, but the profession sure seems to attract a lot of the bad apples.

It's the bullied that are attracted. The bullies have too many marks on their record. What your typically dealing with is the wimp that's turned the table and is addicted to the power endowed to them by the state. They are the brown stain on the blue brotherhood. The no snitching mentality is the hurdle. Most of us are guilty of that to some variation, collectively.

 

[paul1598419]

What makes this worse is the acquittal of the cop in Minnesota yesterday that shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last year. The defense attorney for Jeronimo Yanez kept going back to the THC found in the blood stream of the victim, as if this marker that stays detectable up to 30 days after exposure somehow made this shooting the victims fault. The jury was deadlocked for five hours before coming back with acquittal on all charges. Castile was a motorist who was pulled over when Yanez profiled him as a suspect in a robbery and when Castlie told the officer he had a gun with him and had a permit to have it, was shot to death. Until there is equal justice for all under the law there will be serious problems between police and the communities they are sworn to protect.

 

[Razako]

What makes this worse is the acquittal of the cop in Minnesota yesterday that shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last year. The defense attorney for Jeronimo Yanez kept going back to the THC found in the blood stream of the victim, as if this marker that stays detectable up to 30 days after exposure somehow made this shooting the victims fault. The jury was deadlocked for five hours before coming back with acquittal on all charges. Castile was a motorist who was pulled over when Yanez profiled him as a suspect in a robbery and when Castlie told the officer he had a gun with him and had a permit to have it, was shot to death. Until there is equal justice for all under the law there will be serious problems between police and the communities they are sworn to protect.

Utterly disgusting case. Apparently if you smoked weed in the last month it gives cops a right to murder you or something. That THC may have had you acting 'unpredictable and frightening' or something.