Laser pointer hits NYPD helicopter

The Boston Globe ^ | August 1, 2006 | Associated Press

[looscnnn]

A 19-year-old man was arrested after authorities said he shined a laser pointer at a police helicopter.

The bright green laser beamed into the cockpit late Monday night, temporarily blinding the officers, said Melissa Klein, an NYPD spokeswoman.

Police arrested Anthony Pepe a short time later, and charged him with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon, Klein said.

[looscnnn]

Are they charging him with criminal possession of a weapon for having a laser pointer?

[taxcontrol]

A laser which can blind someone most certainly be called a weapon.

[sneakers]

weapon? Does that mean my husbands lazer level is a weapon?

[sourcery]

Time to construct a national registry of laser pointer ownership--and prevent felons and estranged husbands from possessing them :-)

[mtbopfuyn]

Further into the article is another man charged with the same (different incident). About time they started arresting for this.

[American_Centurion]

A weapon is anything you can harm someone with.

What defines the "criminal posession" portion?

NYC soon to be wall to wall nerf.

[mtbopfuyn]

I'm sure it depends on the type of laser. Anything that will blind a pilot would be a weapon, imo.

[PeterFinn]

"Laser pointer hits NYPD helicopter"

Wow. That takes one hell of a pitching arm to be able to throw a laser pointer at a moving helicopter!

[Joe 6-pack]

"Does that mean my husbands lazer level is a weapon?"

Only if you put it on a friggin' shark's head...

[jjones9853]

Tim the toolman is reported to have said "From my cold dead hands...."

[samm1148]

One of those pointers can indeed blind; especially important to aviators is sight.

But that does not make a pointer a weapon. That assertion is more asinine liberal dogma. Certainly the youth committed a crime and should be charged. But there was no weapon.

[sionnsar]

weapon? Does that mean my husbands lazer level is a weapon?

I doubt it's as bright as the green laser.

[timestax]

Lazer pointers will do NO harm. I've seen people use them to make their cats or dogs go around in circles and I'm sure it was shined into the pets eyes, and guess what. Nothing. They are completely harmless. The ones sold in stores and office supply shops.

[finnman69]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/tracker.shtml
SkyTag™ - Green Laser Aircraft Tracker

[My2Cents]

When laser pointers are outlawed, only outlaws will have laser pointers.

[lumber1]

criminal possession of a weapon...

....will never stick.

[OldFriend]

Does your husband attempt to blind pilots with his laser?

[finnman69]

http://www.megalaser.com/120mw.htm

[timestax]

It's time people quit acting like big babies...those lazers are harmless.