While watching tv last night, I saw a clip of some idiot with a laser pointer putting the dot on people. I thankfully have never had this happen to me, and I wonder how I would react to it. Imagine you and let's say your wife walking down the street, you with your carry pistol hidden away, and all of a sudden there is a laser sight on your wifes forehead...... what do you do?
I would very quickly move to cover and probably draw my weapon until I determined if the threat were real or perceived. Might leave the wife standing there asking "what"? if I wasn't already confident that she has been in enough dangerous situations to know immediately to react. We travel in some lovely places.
Would that open you up to legal problems? I think it's a reasonable conclusion that your about to be fired upon, but does the law?
hate them things I have had them on me Usually it was someone's kid (brat) at a BBQ or other 'family' function, set them straight rite quick. I own one I use to point out where the problem is at work. Handyman thing. My sop is Identify the problem first, no, cover first. Wife was never the target that I noticed, woulda shoved her kinda hard [] woulda understood tho' snowbyrd
I see this as equivalent to the kid in the tennement hallway with a toy gun. Its reasonable to assume someone may react with lethal force, may be a homicide, but "not guilty" (?)
My brother had one pulled on him at night by someone in a van while driving on I-4 near Orlando. He immediately dropped way back, drew his .45 just in case, and called the state patrol with the vehicle description and license plate number. They responded immediately and the dispatcher stayed with him on the cell phone until the trooper pulled the van over. Turns out it was a bunch of teenage kids out joyriding. The trooper informed them of the seriousness of their little escapade and that they were lucky someone didn't shoot them and then asked my brother if he wanted to press any charges. He let the kids worry for a few minutes and decided against it. The trooper told my brother later that they have this problem more and more and someday someone is going to get killed because of their stupidity and unfortunately it would be up to a jury to decide if the shooting was justified as it would definitely go to court.
Try this one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1364459/posts Its being recognized ( at least as a "blinding hazard"),quite afew comments on the link, stiil about blinding attacks.. ... <small> </small> <small>Posted on 03/16/2005 8:44:29 PM PST by STARWISE</small> TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)3-16-05 -- A bill making it a third degree felony to aim a laser beam at an operating plane, train or car was approved today by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. The bill is inspired by the recent incidents of pilots reporting lasers being aimed into cockpits over other states. Pointing a laser at a car would be a third degree felony and carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. It would be a second degree felony if someone is injured and a first degree felony if someone is killed. National Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said earlier this year that there have been about 400 reports of lasers being pointed at planes since 1990. Senator Jim Sebesta says that there haven't been problems with people pointing lasers at cars in Florida. He says his legislation is designed to head that off at the pass. <hr noshade="1" size="1"> [SIZE=-1]TOPICS:[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Crime/Corruption[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]Government[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]US: Florida[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]KEYWORDS:[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]3RDDEGREE[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]AIRLINESECURITY[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]CAR[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]COCKPIT[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]FELONY[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]LASER[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]MINETA[/SIZE]; [SIZE=-1]TRAIN[/SIZE]<hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> Is there not a federal law yet?
Not implying anything against the law, but if the SHTF situation it might really convince someone that that DO NOT TRESSPASS sign means them. The idea that having someone without a weapon and at a distance of a couple hundred feet and under good cover put a dot on intruders and verbally warn them sounds appealing. That might sort out what their real intentions are and leave the actual guard still concealed and ready to react with regular sights. Seems like it could be one last attemp to keep a situation from going postal in a nonleathal way or giving you a slight edge if they do. I love the idea that in a gunfight it is always best if the survivor has to argue with the crowd about if his actions were legal, moral, or cowardly. I can see where it would be nice to have someone armed take cover in a ditch because it is safe from the laser pointer, but that the actual guard can see into and shoot into with no problem. Shooting at the person with pointer would also probably indicate that they do not have really good intentions towards your group.
In this context, the threat would be real; trespass and we'll shoot you. A sighting device, just like the firearm it's attached too, shouldn't be pointed at anything that you are not provisionally and willingly able to destroy.
