Community Chat

[KathyPet]

I read a article in USA today about the increase in the number of incidents where laser pointers were aimed at airplanes.  It has increased dramatically causing serious potential results.  I know people do this but my question is why anyone would do this knowing that they could cause a crash of the plane.   Also doing this is a civil offense not a criminal offense.  I think it should be made a criminal offense.

[Reba055]

I saw a piece on the Today show and they were in a chopper and caught the guy. They said it was punishable up to 20 years. They are taking it seriously. Perhaps if they keep pursuing, catching, and sentencing the maximum these idiots will get the message. It is truly frightening and on the increase. 

[millieshops]

Some people are so bored with their own lives that they think it's perfectly okay to amuse themselfves by trying to destroy someone else's.

I'd make pointing a laser at a moving vehicle (plane, train, car, boat, or even a bike) a criminal offense and I'd charge possible offenders as adults once they reach 12! 

[brii]

I don't think people realize how dangerous and reckless that is.

[paie]

They need to make an example of this guy they caught....give him the full 20 years to make people understand your life will be over if you do this. Maybe these idiot laser people will get the message...

[Snoopp]

I'm very suspicious about these laser incidents.  Seems like there were about 20 different reports all taking place around the same time last night.  Anytime there is a simultaneous act my antenna goes up.

[SharkE]

Probably get a slap on the wrist. Why people keep doing this 'stuff'. They can be glad I'm not in a position of authority.

[ChynnaBlue]

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@paie wrote:

They need to make an example of this guy they caught....give him the full 20 years to make people understand your life will be over if you do this. Maybe these idiot laser people will get the message...

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The people they are catching for this are teenage boys or young men in their 20s.

The last two people caught were 15 and 20 in two separate incidents.

I think we need to deal with the fact that teenage boys and young men are in trouble. They're the primary demographic for mass shootings, aiming lasers at planes, and all kinds of bad behaviors from racism and hazing to rape on college campuses. We need to find out what's going on and get them some help until they understand that they need to respect the lives of others. Girls and young women do stupid things as well, but their poor decisions don't usually wind up killing or endangering people.

[SharkE]

To much time on their hands and have been bought up like pups. No supervision is the problem with young men who have to much energy.

They need structure and jobs something to worry about like the rest of us.

Like how to pay your bills..............

I'm lucky, praise God, that we live where we don't have that age group close to us.

[ROMARY]

'What is wrong with people now-a-days?' ...........  Too much unsupervised lax time on their hands, I'm guessing.  Sometimes, instead of being isolated, thinking of ways to destroy, just maybe working or volunteering with other folks (being a part of something good, a sense of accomplishment) might be a better road to take.