Tim, you're hyperventilating... relax!!!


Tim Killian wrote:
Nearly 300 million people inhabit the U.S. these days, and roughly
half
of them are old enough to wave a laser pointer around. If only 1/10
of
1% are imbeciles with a sociopathic streak, that means 150,000 of our

fellow citizens could be lighting up police cars, busses, aircraft,
and
NFL quarterbacks for sheer amusement.

Laser pointers have been compared to guns in this discussion, but
there
are big differences -- a pointer can be used covertly, and the beam
travels at the speed of light. In a fit of deranged anger, I might go

out in the back yard and try to hit a police helicopter with a
high-powered rifle, but I'd probably miss the target, and the noise
would certainly draw attention. With a GLP, the situation is very
different -- it's more like a shooter with a silencer on the weapon,
and
the weapon never misses.



Czar7 wrote:

Just thought you might be intersted in this little nugget.

Davoud...this was on WBAL.com this morning:

*********
Linthicum Man Faces Charges In Laser Incident
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
WBAL Radio and The Associated Press

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) - Police are announcing the arrest of a
Linthicum
man in a laser pointing incident involving an Anne Arundel County
Police helicopter.

Thirty-eight-year-old Edward Pannell of Eva Avenue was arrested
yesterday after a three-week investigation.

Police say Pannell admitted pointing a high intensity green laser
at
the helicopter December 31st while the aircraft was involved in a
search for a criminal suspect in Pasadena.

The pilot had to break off the search because the laser interfered
with
his visibility.

Pannell is charged with reckless endangerment and a violation of a
prohibition on laser pointers -- both are misdemeanors.

The investigation was conducted by county and state police
detectives
in the Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Force.

***********

My question or point would be the quote "...and a voloation of a
prohibition on laser pointers."???

I don't have details, yet, on what was pointed since I don't know
what
the AP considers "high intensity". So it may be that this GLP was
over 5mw. But the comment was a prohibition on laser
pointers...not
GLP's or high intensity laser pointers...but laser pointers.

What I can tell you is that Linthicum is home to BWI airport and I
am
sure they are watching the area like a hawk. I am also sure that
Mr.
Pannell is very foolish to point the thing at a police helicopter.

Oh well...be careful about rumors. You never know when they will
become misdemeanors!

Dave