Anyone still doubt Oz is a very, very silly country?
the Headline reads "Laser ban to prevent mass murder" -" (the) New laws banning the carrying of lasers in public are aimed at preventing *mass murder* when aircraft are targeted" apparently
High-powered lasers will be classed as prohibited weapons, and possessing one without a permit will be an offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail and Possession of any class of laser in public without a permit will carry a maximum two-year jail sentence and fine of $5,000.
Did you read that? "Possession of any class of laser in public without a permit.."
read it again and think. "Possession of any class of laser in public without a permit.."
You think you as a perfectly law abiding citizen will be OK - it's only criminals that need to fear the Law right? guess what? you have a laser of ANY description on you, you are a criminal.
The report goes on to say that "In the past, police have had to prove a laser has been used improperly even if people found in possession of a powerful device have no reason to possess it. Now officers will be able to frisk suspects and anyone found with a laser without a permit will be arrested and charged."
So any police officer can stop you on your way home, frisk you and find you in possession of a laser device of ANY CLASS and you're as good as gone. More on this later, ignorant person who thinks they're safe..
Adding "the new laws are in response to a spate of incidents in which aircraft have been targeted with powerful hand-held lasers."
Would these be Police helicopters by any chance? You know the ones - they have the honking great spotlights hanging off them and drive above freeways at night blinding drivers..
Hang on though, maybe I'm being too cynical - after all, they tell us "The lasers could temporarily blind pilots, with potentially horrific consequences."
And some of us will be exempt - "Groups who would be able to apply for permits would include teachers, astronomers, university researchers and some people in the building industry."
OK, so people in NSW who have a legitimate reason to own, use and carry a laser device can register it/them and all will be good with the world. Especially the coffers, for surely this registration will involve photo ID's and the Guvermint LOVES making you pay dearly for being made to carry your picture around on a slab of plastic.
Righty-O, off go all the New South Welshpersons to register their lethal weapons.. but think carefully people - don't forget to register ALL your lasers! you wouldn't want to be slapped inside for merely neglecting to add one you'd forgotten about to the list. (I'm assuming they'll be recording serial numbers (pfft!).
So you have your little red laser pointer covered.. but there's also all your GMC power tools with laser guidance, don't forget those - and maybe while you're at it you should add your computer DVD burner and CD rom, the DVD player and your CD player as well - they have laser diodes too - some a lot more powerful than any laser pointer. They're also at a much more dangerous InfraRed wavelength, and they can easily be modified into a portable weapon which can literally be used to start fires! Don't forget to add you builders laser level, your laser printer, plumb bob and any surveying instruments you may have. And your camera - some like the Sony 717's have laser night focussing built in..
So again from the top - a police officer could stop you, frisk you on your way home from Bunnings or Harvey Normans and find you carrying a powertool fitted with a laser or a DVD rom and whether you like it or not, you are a criminal. After all, for carrying a "laser device of any class" (it's printed on the box dude!) is an offence and you're as good as nicked , you EVIL LAW BREAKING MASS MURDERER!!
Backing up a bit for a few facts:
- Class 2 devices are deemed dangerous if viewed directly, although at ranges over about 100 metres are deemed a minor hazard. Class 2 Green lasers are no more powerful than their red light cousins, they're just more visible to our eyes which see that wavelength better than red.
- The thing being banned is really a 'laser diode' - pretty much just a simple, very bright diode that has a 'collimator' over the light source ( a collimator is a lens which converges the light to a parallel beam).
- The class 2 red lasers are less bright than daylight, and green lasers a *tiny* bit brighter than daylight.
- Any light source can be collimated with a lens to produce a very bright beam and ANY high school physics student (who pays attention) could easily cobble together a lens and a light source to make something a lot brighter than these 'lasers' being banned.
The issue for aircraft is really the misuse of class 3 or 4 devices which are intended for industrial applications and ALREADY require licences. It is already illegal to be using or carrying a Class 3/4 laser without a license so this new law is largely redundant other than it now controls harmless class 2 lasers
In the contest to prove which is the stupidest state, NSW has really come a long way. Daylight is brighter than these lasers. Actually managing to point a laser at a planes cockpit is a feat of skill few could master. Hitting a commercial jet pilots eyes is impossible given where they are seated in the plane (do they even look out their windscreens any more??).
Maybe they could justify this reaction by examining the carnage on the roads caused by all those terrible weapons to see how people are *really* affected by pointers. Hang on.. uh.. it hasn't happened.
Back to the nonsense..
We are told - "Make no mistake, they are lethal weapons" and "Mr Iemma did not rule out further measures restricting the use of lasers "
Oh wait - I have an idea!!
The Guvermint can do a big buyback scheme then arm our soldiers fighting the War On Terror with laser pointers !
..and a final question - can I have a nightclub owner charged with attempted murder and assault with a 'lethal weapon' if laser light strikes me at a club? how much could I sue them for?
10:17 a.m. - 2008-04-22
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