Making Sure Green Lazers dont get "Banned"

[caleb]

Hey guys, I posted a link to the petion on laserpointerforums.com and explained it.

[Bucky1379]

Hi Guys

I didn't realise things had gotten so serious. I have signed the petition and I am going to write to my local member (although I just hope that doesn't put me on some list). I am, however, under the impression that normal people had some rights left and to have knee jerk rules brought in because of a few idiots doesn't seem right.

This is the letter I'm sending. I put part of it in my petition signing but the allowable 500 characters allowed me only about half of it.

Sir

I am very disappointed with the newly introduced laser pointer licencing 'solution' that is intended to stop a few idiots mis-using these instruments.

These lasers are wonderful astronomical teaching and telescope guiding tools and the people using them as such only have them on for short periods and would turn them off immediately if a plane was in the area yet these are the only people being penalised by this licencing fee. The idiots who buy them for use in pranks and 'practical jokes' will still be able to buy them from overseas and will simply choose to not pay this deterent licencing fee. Simply put, it is detering the wrong people.

A nominal licence fee is fine if the government wants to keep some sort of track of the lasers used by the legitimate users but no fee, no matter how high it is will help manage the illegal users and these are the ones that I hope the government is really chasing. I believe that the only deterent is very high fines for the mis-use of these lasers and this would also have the benefit of raising the revenue that the government seems to be seeking without the side effect of alienating the legitimate users.

Yours etc.

How does this sound?

[venus (Lydia)]

very interesting debate, can someone invent a laser that shuts of when it shines on a lighted object?

[asterisk (Geoff)]

I received a reply to my letter from Tanya Gadiel, The Parliamentary Secretary for Police, in which she states:

...the Government is aware of the many legitimate uses of laser pointers.

Members of the Minister's staff have met with representatives of amateur astronomy groups to better understand how people, such as yourself, use laser pointers and this understanding will influence the Government decision on the best way to regulate these products.

Now that the media has quietened down, I wonder if this issue will be relegated to the "too-hard" basket?

[PeteMo (Pete)]

To be consistent, are they going to ban lasers used by building contractors, surveyors etc?

[PeteMo (Pete)]

Instead of high fines (what happens when they can't/won't pay?), maybe they should be charged under anti-terrorism laws and serve 5-10 years, say in Guantanamo Bay.

There was a spate of laser pointer being used at soccer matches in the UK by opposing fans to blind goalkeepers or key players.

Just banning them won't stop the morons, so the rest of us get punished for their stupid actions.

I don't see how an over-stretched Police Force can possibly enforce this. Just look at the arsenal of weapons recovered from armed gangs, including Tazers!!!