The Laser Pointer Ban in Australia

the problem with lasers in australia and elsewhere I should imagine is that the small minded like to assemble on airport incoming flight paths to group laser the pilots blinding them whilst at a crucial time whilst landing commercial Jets. Yes I think it would be mass murder.

Your story makes no mention of the reason for the possible ban of these laser pointers except to report that they could be used for “mass murder”.
Your attempted humorous slant to the story forgot to add that the reason they could be used for “mass murder” were the numerous attacks on pilots of passenger aircraft coming in to land causing temporary blindness and putting the lives of these passengers and crew at risk.

Laser pointers were banned because people were pointing them at airplanes and helicopters and the pilots were being momentarily blinded, which is very dangerous. If it were not for that they would be OK.

This is just more knee-jerk reaction to a few idiots. If you have stricter laws that severely punish those who pull stupid stunts like this, set up some stings, and enforce laws that are already on the books, you won’t have this sort of problem!

Do I need to say this? I think I do: If laser pointers are outlawed, only outlaws will have laser pointers!

On another note, many pens have laser pointers in them as part of their design. Do you really expect the Australian authorities to look at every single Pen on the off chance it might have a laser pointer built in?

Keep in mind: I’m not dismissing the danger here of pointing a laser pointer or group of laser pointers at an aircraft trying to land - merely the overreaction to something that could easily be fixed if a few things are done:

Step up law enforcement patrols around airport perimeters; set up some stings; punish those who do this nonsense publicly; and fine them severely!

No need to ban an otherwise useful, and in responsible adult hands: useful tool.

BlackWolf

Automobiles kill tens of thousands of people each year. Perhaps they should be banned as well?
Until there are genuine consequences for actions of wicked people doing bad things, there will be “unintended consequences” for good people trying to use things for good. If I ever go ‘down-under’, I’ll try to remember to leave my laser pointer at home. :)

Oh, I hesitate to bring this up, but why haven’t Islamowackos been taking down planes this way if it is so effective? Martial arts friends tell me *anything* can be used as a weapon if a person is “clever” enough. I know laser pointers have been used by jerks in football stadiums to scuttle field goals. And I heard of a road-rage incident with laser pointers. What’s next?

The reason is that idiots have been shining high powered lasers (those used in the building industry, astronomy, etc), into the cockpits of planes approaching airports. Fortunately there have been no fatalities; unfortunately not many arrests because of the difficulty locating the idiots doing it.

High Power was mentioned.
if this will still allow low powered red laser pointers, like people actually use for the stated purpose(as a pointer, in a meeting) I don’t see how anyone would have a problem, except the people who like to fool around with high powered ones.
A basic low power office type laser pointer is still clearly visible in a brightly lit room at distances over 100 feet. I’m not sure what reasonable purpose people think they have for wanting green super high powered ones, except as a toy, and to say they have it.

They are not what you are probably thinking of. Laser pointers used to be red with a light output of just 1-5 mW.

The new green beams cost much the same, but can reach 300 mW. These will pop balloons and being green coloured, are deeply absobed by red and blue coloured things, like blood vessels. Imagine the damage these do to eyes? Idiots shining them into your pet’s eyes even?

Not just planes and helicopters, imagine them shone into your eyes at a busy junction, or in fast moving traffic.

These should not be allowed outside the optics lab as regretably, the few idiots mean everyone who could legitamately use them, has to suffer.

i’ve just spent about 15 mins snooping around the net, and i cant seem to find anything about the specifics about what class and mw of lasers are band!! so anyone can help me?
but i still reckon the red ones don’t need to banned!!!! green are far more dangerous. Cuz i live in hk but i also like in aus so i bought a few lasers (red 6 mw) and i was goin to give it to friends but im not sure if can now…