Teen Arrested for Shining Laser Pointer at Police Copter

Anyone familiar with police or self-defense use of handguns is familiar with the use of laser sighting handgrips, i.e. http://www.crimsontrace.com/.

The police in the copter don't know that it is a kid with a laser pointer or a thug with laser sights trying to pop off a lucky shot. They should track down and arrest for such activity since pointing a weapon is a use of force (Class A misdemeanor) and pointing it at police is usually a felony. An arrest is not a conviction.

The twenty years quoted is probably the maximum for the felony. I see no where does it state that the kid was tried or convicted or sentenced.

If you don't like living in a police state (California) then move to Texas.

Zebra

why is this thing even legal to buy...it should be banned. Some idiot my point to peole that doesn't know what it is and do some harm. Whoever is making it legal is doing a nut job. Yes I say 15 to 20 years is reasonable if someone was hurt by the thing.

Terry:

I totally agree with you.

Our freedom is slipping away. Don't worry about what the government loving monkeys think. They probably need the gov. to help them think.

You can LOVE your country and HATE your government. That is a very American characteristic, at least until they end the right of freedom of speech.

Hi everyone, just recently my younger brother who just turned 18 bought a laser pointer, for fun. I also bought one previously for my dogs at petco....its suppose to promote healthy dogs because they chase the light, therefore giving them exercise. Anyways, he got caught right before the 4th of July, shining it around a local town homecoming and shined just over an officer, it wasnt in their eyes or face but hit a body part just enough to make noticable. He was unaware that there were officers in that direction let alone it was illegal. Well yesterday my mom called me to tell me they arrested him and are charging him with assult on an officer. We have always lived in remote, small towns and nothing of illegal laser pointers has ever been said. I didn't know there was such a thing, so when they serched him, and took away his laser pointer I thought a warning would be reasonable, especially since this issue is not well known to many. He is being held on a $3000.00 bail, and is being tried for assulting an officer....tell me how this all makes since. I know that police officers would think it could be a gun, but a warning could be helpful when dealing with a situation like that. Stores or places that would sell these need to have a Warning label or something explaining the consequenses of actions with that laser pointer.

Thats horrable! 20 years in prizon!! Wtf is up with that! The poor kid was just using a toy! Maybe a month of jueve at MOST! thats insane! If that kid is in jail! LET HIM OUT!

Why are they for sale when merely pointing them at a person's eyes can blind them? I assume that's permanent blindness.

This is a sick world.. 20 years for this meanwhile you can kill someone and get away with it.....

the police are a bunch of babies..what actual law did these people break? it won't be long before a person can't even look in the same direction as a police officer. and, if it's illegal to point them why are they legally sold. i cannot believe that in these day and times everything you do, say, or think has some kind of law that makes it illegal. free my butt. we are only as free as the government wants us to be. we are now a police state. as it has been said said " who shall guard the guards"!!!!

Terry,

A laser could blind the pilot and cause a crash of an aircraft or police helicopter. Laser ponters have a legal use so they are sold. Guns are also legally sold, but if shoot at a passenger airliner you should be arrested. The kid's parents need to have the responsibility to instruct the kid of the laser's proper use.
Travel the world like I have. We have the most free society in the world, and a

Well i believe that the is the parents' responsablities to informed their children's about how to use and be respondsable. But i also understand the police point of view. But to give 20 years of prison for this incident in which no one was hurt. It's really dum and ridicules. When you have other people driving under the influnece and killing people and the police letting them go realizing later that the driver was under the influence, and all they get is a year in prison. Where is the justice in that.

I lived in Brooklyn, NY - a place where people sometimes get shot randomly. I had some idiot in an apartment building point a laser at me - my first thought was that it was a laser sighted gun - and the I was the intended target. The police got the guy - an idiot teenager who thought it was funny that I thought I might be killed. Not so funny if your are the target.

Terry...
YOU are a MORON...........nuff said..

Okay assuming everything negative about laser pointers is true I just can't fathom up to twenty years in jail for a 15 yr old or anyone who did not have criminal intentions. What is this country coming to.

Wow...Lola....too bad your parents didn't teach you how to spell.....It's called "Hooked on Phonics"...check it out sometime, you could probably find one on E-bay !

Dick,

I "SECOND" that comment on Terry.


Blue

Each state should make up a law for laser pointing. I think it should be allowed in self-defense only. If someone is using this for kicks, they should be fined and serve a 2 to 5 yr
prison sentence. If that 15yr gets 20yrs without parole, america getting just as bad as Singapore. Singapore is a police state country.

Hey queenie..i was just thinking that!
20yrs but if you get some white shoes and kill your husband and pretend like he forced you to have sex and dress up, you get out in less than a year? What's wrong with that picture?

Third the comment on Terry.

The police should've just given the kid a warning. 20 years is a ridiculous sentence.