David Banach indicted under USA PATRTIOT ACT

Global News Matrix ^ | March 24, 2005 | MatrixMetaphore

[RushCrush]

blog pimp ping

[sunnysky]

I used to have three green lasers. I now have one. We used to point at stars with them and play with them when it was really foggy out. It never even crossed my mind that you could cause problems with airplanes.

This is total BS - this guy should not be found guilty of anything.

We have come down a BAD path with this so called "PATRIOT" act.

[neocon1984]

So, this fella was just having a good time, and deserves no punishment for his behavior?

He jeopardized the safety of the pilots and passengers. He also engaged in an act that terrorists use to triangulate the distance of a plane in order to shoot it down.

The difference between radical Libertarians and Democrats is that the latter have no principles. The former have STUPID principles.

[cspackler]

How do you use a laser to look at the stars?

Don't you know anything, silly? You use it to point at those annoying passenger jets that get in the way.

Seriously, this is bad reporting. Not near enough facts in it to ascertain what the real story is. Is it a case of a schmuck who accidentally waved the laser around, or was he thinking it was cool to flash it at the planes as they flew overhead, and was doing it intentionally? I have to believe that he was doing more that accidental stuff for the feds to stomp on him like this.

[MatrixMetaphore]

Yes, but is punishable with a far less sentence. FAA and Title 18 of the USC have different guidelines and sentencing.

[steveegg]

Banach's lawyer, Gina Mendola-Longarzo, said her client was using the laser to look at stars with his daughter when the plane was hit by the beam.

Do I file this lame excuse under "B" for Bravo Sierra, or "U" for Unbelievable Bravo Sierra?

[sunnysky]

You use a laser to POINT to a star not to look at a star. The laser makes a beam of light that you can follow upward. Better than a flashlight.

[Servant of the 9]

Once would have been considered non-purposeful conduct or contact, but the plane's windshield was hit three times. Once = accident; Thrice = hmmmmmm....

Once is hapenstance.
Twice is coincidence.
Threee times is conspiracy.
___V. Lenin

So9

[Psycho_Bunny]

This is an abuse of power. Ugh!

Is it?  How do you know?  What are all the facts of the case?  Can he prove he was with his daughter?  A telescope with a laser sight is a pretty serious piece of equipment--does he actually own one?  What star was he looking at that he was able to hit the eyes of the pilot of an approaching aircraft?  What are the circumstances of the lie the FBI states the suspect told?  Why did a Grand Jury indict the suspect?

Since your a n00b, you should know that most people here expect conclusions based on facts from posters.

[cspackler]

Agreed, SO9...

My thoughts exactly.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

This makes no sense. At night he'd see the planes lights. He'd know it was there. He'd have to deliberately aim at the plane to hit it 3 times.

Plus why lie to Federal investigators about such a simple thing?

[MEG33]

He says.

[JohnnyZ]

So, this fella was just having a good time, and deserves no punishment for his behavior?

Of course he should be let go, just like when Ahmed and his daughter are out "looking at the stars" some night and accidentally crash an airliner, do you really think that merits punishment? especially under some evil rule like the PATRIOT Act?

[McGavin999]

And you don't think pointing a laser at a plane is a terrorist act? I guess those guys who flew into the towers were just off course, hmmmm?

[ladtx]

I'm just going by the story. It says the laser was used to look at the stars not point at them.

[cspackler]

And how do you or I know that he really isn't a loon or a terrorist trying to take down an airliner? That's what investigations are for. Can you not be an American citizen AND a terrorist? Do all terrorists have to be of middle-eastern descent?

[GSlob]

"He's an idiot, not a terrorist. This is not what the Act was intended for."
Well, one can look at it as at unintended side benefit: by weeding out at least some dangerous idiots, the Patriot Act turns out to be more useful than originally intended.
BTW, how on earth could one use a laser to look at the stars? A laser is not a vision aid, like a telescope, and to use it as a pointer against clear sky is meaningless, and against hazy or cloudy sky is meaningless as well, for haze or clouds would obscure the stars. And to hit a moving airplane with a laser beam, one would need a good mounting for a laser, probably coupled with a serious rifle scope.

[ezo4]

Once is an accident, three times? The guy either as intent or is a total moron with possible disastrous consequences. Throw the jerk in jail for awhile and fine the heck out of him.

[tfecw]

yeah, This was posted yesterday and i had the same question :)

apparently it's useful in the city when there is a lot of gunk in the air to highlight the beam. I'm told this doesn't work to well on a clear night out in the desert.

This guy is an idiot. He broke the law then lied to the feds. I hope he does time. Letting him go is giving a free pass to all the terrorist who will overnight become "star gazers"

[Ditto]

Well here is the first example of the prosecution of a citizen under a law created and allegedly reserved for terrorists.

I would consider putting an airplane in danger of crashing to be terrorism.