The Department of Homeland Security will soon be using lasers at airports

[The Lightning Stalker]

New Homeland Security Laser Scanner Reads People At Molecular Level « CBS DC

And here are the specs on the laser. Up to 1W average power at retina penetrating
wavelengths. Does anybody else want to get shot with this thing? No I didn't think so.

Picosecond Programmable Laser | Genia Photonics

While I'm sure that in the right hands this would be completely safe, I'm not willing to trust the
average airport employee with something potentially this powerful and dangerous. And
nobody said it had to end with airports. Who knows maybe someday every patrol car will be
shooting this at passersby.

On a related note, how awesome would a tabletop tuneable laser be?

 

[NightExplorer96]

It does seem pretty strange and Im sure installing this will cost alot of money. Money the goverment dosen't have, But the goverment has always wasted $$$ away D:

Again, I do not trust any of "these people" with a 1W laser. We better get free goggles :beer:

 

[cantthinkofone]

What right is this taking away? Anyway this looks not so much fun and if misused could burn skin. As well as retinas. However it's picosecond bursts. Still don't want that near me

 

[CapeClover]

I suspect that any device that reads molecules will raise a tremendous number of false alarms. There are millions of legitimate reasons why any random person on any given day will test positive for molecules that indicate explosives, narcotics, or whatever else they might be looking for.

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Exactly. Nitroglycerine is commonly prescribed for heart conditions. Ammonium nitrate is commonly
used in fertilizer. Farmers who are also heart patients are going to put a big wrench into the works.

 

[ixfd64]

I wonder if a mirror would be effective against it...

 

[sleestak]

I wonder if a mirror would be effective against it...

Just show up like this and no one will suspect a thing...

 

[CDHDC]

just show up like this and no one will suspect a thing...

lol!!!

 

[cantthinkofone]

so in iceland i have a right to not be searched? in iceland i have the right to not get lasered? you talk so badly about america. we have some of the most rights, stop acting like your enslaved.

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

Tells responsible laserists that they can't have lasers >5mW; tells laser n00b idiots with badges at the airport to lase people with >100mW.

Just nod and laugh, boys, nod and laugh.

 

[Javalin]

so in iceland i have a right to not be searched? in iceland i have the right to not get lasered? you talk so badly about america. we have some of the most rights, stop acting like your enslaved.

I think he is trying to get at the idea that Iceland doesn't do stuff like this and it's still there.

I agree that we do have many rights that others don't enjoy, but as someone who has lived outside the US, there are other factors that will draw you toward / away from any location. Much like things that draw you toward / away from certain people.

Iceland doesn't have this kind of scrutiny you are correct, but Iceland also doesn't have a great big target on it. And they don't go waiving that target around or in the face of those who put the target there in the first place.

I love the USA and I love the freedoms that we enjoy. But I don't always care for the laws that are passed or the restrictions placed where there needn't be any.