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Man Who Pointed Laser At Aircraft Gets 30-Month Sentence
coondoggie writes "In a move federal prosecutors hope sends a strong message to the knuckleheads who point lasers at aircraft for fun, a California man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for shining one at two aircraft. According to the FBI Adam Gardenhire, 19, was arrested on March 29, 2012 and named in a two-count indictment filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles that said he pointed the beam of a laser at a private plane and a police helicopter that responded to the report."
Because the term "idiots" could be applyed for you too...
The 19yo "idiot" who beamed the laser directly on a place is perhaps a total idiot, but could be a total super math freak and perhaps he works in a lab near you...
I'm a programmer, so I'm not an "idiot" when facing computer... but... I can easily be considered an idiot while doing something else...
you know, it's kinda relative, since we're all idiots in somes areas.
The only issue I have is that this kid, probably non-violent dumb-ass, will come out of prison where he will experience many bad things, and probably learn many many bad things. When he comes out he probably won't be as non-violent any more.
The Geneva Convention might have something to say about that...
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
Yeah I usually prefer a higher INT score unless I am rolling a Cleric :P
"The first time I got drunk, I got married. The second time I bought a chimpanzee, after that I stayed sober" Arian Seid
federal prosecutors hope sends a strong message
I've never understood this message sending that prosecutors/judges/etc go on about.
If I'm going to aim a laser pointer at a plane, I'm not first googling the punishment for it. Nor for any other (potential) crimes.
Who is this message being sent to exactly?
By "sending a message" they are by their own admission, using an unusual punishment.
Sure, this is an interpretive call on the meaning of "unusual" and judges are extremely unlikely to limit their own power by using a broad definition, just as they are unlikely to limit their power by using a narrow definition.
Apparently, California's prison lobby has not been deterred by the budget problems and overcrowding. We have the technology, house arrest for 30 months would be more reasonable.
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It simple. You do the crime, you do the time.
In Germany this crime would be "dangerous interference with railroad, ship and airplane traffic" punishable with prison for six months to ten years, minor cases 3 months to 5 years. I'd guess it is similar in the US.
It is however the first time I hear somebody prosecuted for shining lasers at airplanes.
Toddlers were eating those tiny magnet balls... which is a problem since it'll effectively punch holes in your intestines and kill you. It's not like it was grown men doing it.
What I heard was teenagers were using them as impromptu toungue studs.
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ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
I know of at least one pilot who got permanent eye damage after a laser strike, and who can no longer fly. The beam becomes pretty wide at that distance but is still strong enough to cause serious damage.
The fact is that what you suggest is literally impossible.
No, but that of the friend, and that of lax gun regulation that allows him to have guns in the first place.
Please do not vote or breed. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the environment the children is safe - always unless that responsibility is given to a caretaker. Even selecting a quality caretaker is a parent's responsibility. Stop trying to blame your ineptitude on inanimate objects.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
I am a private pilot, and you should be aware that without the threat of lasers shining on your windscreen, 56% of fatal aircraft accidents happen during the takeoff, initial climb, final approach and landing phases of flight (where it's possible to shine one of these lasers). This represents approximately 6% of the total time of an average flight. Let me repeat: 56% of fatal accidents happen during the same 6% of a flight.
Given that these are already the most stressful parts of the flight for the pilot, adding stress like not being able to see is insanely bad news. If this had happened at night, it could have temporarily blinded the pilot, long enough to lose control of the plane on the initial climb and stall it out. If it had happened on the final approach or landing, especially on a windy day, the pilot would have missed the runway and likely cratered.
Picking nits about whether the pilot was permanently blinded or not won't matter so much once everyone aboard (and likely some on the ground) are dead because of the incident.
Reference: http://planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm
Apparently people really are that stupid.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
I am a private driver, and you should be aware that without the threat of birds pooping on your windscreen, 99% of fatal car accidents happen when the car is out of the garage (where it's possible for birds to poop in your windscreen). This (US average of 87 minutes per day) represents approximately 6% of the total time of an average day. Let me repeat: 99% of fatal accidents happen during the same 6% of a car's runtime.
Given that these are already the most stressful parts of the drive for the driver, adding stress like not being able to see is insanely bad news. If this had happened at night, it could have temporarily blinded the driver, long enough to lose control of the car. If it had happened on the final approach or landing, especially on a windy day, the pilot would have missed the runway and likely cratered.
Picking nits about whether the driver was permanently blinded or not won't matter so much once everyone aboard (and likely some on the ground) are dead because of the incident.
Reference: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Traffic/story?id=485098&page=1#.UVH7RFuDTxg
Thus we should kill all birds, or preferably something even more drastic.