I guess I have to go here...

[94Z28]

It's getting a bit ridiculous that people are immature and retarded enough to be shining lasers at aircraft's.. our hobby is in grave danger and soon we will be labeled as criminal if we don't figure out how to bring awareness to our peers about shining lasers up in the sky.

States combat rising number of laser strikes on aircraft


Any ideas as to how we could raise awareness without looking guilty of something we haven't done?

 

[Razako]

It's a hard problem to deal with. The people doing this retarded bs aren't people who read this forum, do any form of research, or pay attention to safety labels in general. You could put a giant warning label on every single laser saying "IT'S A MAJOR FELONY TO POINT THIS DEVICE AT AIRCRAFT" and I doubt it would make much of an impact. These laser incidents overwhelmingly result from people on the bottom 20% of the IQ curve who bought a cheap laser for pocket change on ebay. They're literally just idiots who probably think "Oh cool, I wonder if this little laser can hit that helicopter up there".

I can only think of Ebay requiring a MANDATORY purchase warning on all laser pointers about it being illegal to point them at aircraft. Maybe put it in giant flashing red letters or something to hopefully get the attention of the 'room temperature IQ crowd'.

I believe that the escalation in laser incidents is directly related to the reduction in the cost of lasers. The problem wasn't NEARLY this bad back when it would cost you $40-50 minimum for a green laser. That generally kept them out of the price range of the idiots. Now you can get a >70mw decent quality laser 303 for like $7, or a green penlaser for $2. LITERALLY pocket change. Even somebody with the most casual possible interest in lasers can afford them now.

 

[NightExplorer96]

^Indeed. The majority of the population unfortunately is stupid, and no matter how much you want to try and educate them or show them what is right, and what is wrong they'll do as they please.

Apart from mandatory safety labels being stuck on lasers informing people of charges if aimed at an aircraft or person, you're a little outta luck.

-Alex

 

[CynicalBrad]

I bet that if they made a good example of people intentionally doing this and televised it country wide, it might get the attention of those to the far left portions of the curve. If some of them see someone get a felony/domestic terrorism charge and some serious federal prison time, they MIGHT think twice about it. It is sad. I don't even take my lasers outside anymore unless there is some very thick, very low cloud coverage just in case.

 

[10fenny]

There was an airshow/firework show here in kentucky last weekend.. apparently someone was shining a laser at an American flag that was being pulled by a plane. On Monday my coworker asked if that was me.. really?!!

 

[GSS]

^Indeed. The majority of the population unfortunately is stupid, and no matter how much you want to try and educate them or show them what is right, and what is wrong they'll do as they please.

Apart from mandatory safety labels being stuck on lasers informing people of charges if aimed at an aircraft or person, you're a little outta luck.

-Alex

Stupid yes, **sholes big time:yabbmad: