pocket laser for signaling

If someone were to rig up a small convex lens at the business end to spread the beam it might work. But IMHO there are a whole lot of better options. A light stick tied on an eighteen inch string and whirled around (at night) is a near perfect attention getter.
 
True, I do not "draw down" every time I see a laser dot. It depends on the situation. But I have certainly done it, and may well do it again. You see, I "AM" the police that get called when a carload of idiots is in my assigned area lasering people. The procedure is the same as when we get a call about a carload of idiots pointing guns at people. A significant number of lasers are attached to weapons. One time I saw a man pointing a laser at a toddler, and the laser was attached to a Glock. No, he did not get shot, but it could have been ugly. This cretin was "trying out" the laser, on HIS OWN DAUGHTER! I do support the right to carry weapons and defend one's self, but I also strongly believe in personal responsibility. Although I have never actually filed the charge, lasering a person without his/her consent seems to fall under "assault by contact" in the Texas Penal Code. I am not sure if there has been a test case. BTW, I have been in law enforcement 19 years, and I have not once been the subject of an excessive force complaint based on pointing or brandishing my weapons.
 
sgtmike88:

I need some clarification on your response "Bite me". Was that intended for me, or for Medic1210, or for both of us? If it was directed at me, then please explain to me which part of my comments incited this response from you. I really don't understand what you are getting mad at me for.

Thank you.

Mike
 
Originally posted by Rex G
You see, I "AM" the police that get called when a carload of idiots is in my assigned area lasering people.

You see, for all I know, you are some 15 y/o hiding behind the anonimity the internet bestows trying to add some authority to your previous post because you in fact realize how rediculous and excessive it was. Now I'm not saying I don't believe you are a LEO of 19 yrs, but given the other post of yours, I am very skeptical. Most LEOs I know with 19 years under their belt are quite mellow. Your post sounds like one of a green rookie that is aching to bust the bad guys. Of course, I will never know if what you say is true. Such is the beauty of the internet. You can be anything you want to be with the stroke of a few keys.

One time I saw a man pointing a laser at a toddler, and the laser was attached to a Glock.

I don't know about you, but I would say this man was pointing a gun at a toddler, not a laser. And did you draw down on him and arrest him? After all you knew it was a weapon that was at the source of the red dot, and you made it clear that "Anyone putting a laser on me is likely to see the business end of a 1911 until such time as I have determined the source of the laser" BTW, your department issues the 1911 as the official carry? Didn't the Texas DPS adopt the .357 Sig as their carry sidearm? Yes, I do realize that the DPS doesn't govern all PDs in Texas, but I thought most departments have gone away from the model 1911 due to safety/liability concerns.

Although I have never actually filed the charge, lasering a person without his/her consent seems to fall under "assault by contact" in the Texas Penal Code.

Boy, that is really digging for some PC isn't it? So, shining a light on somebody is a punishable offense?? How exactly is a beam of light considered assault by contact if it shines on somebody? So, that should also include a flashlight right? Man, how many people have you assaulted with your flashlight at night? ;-) I can see the frivolous lawsuites clogging the courts now as soon as news of this gets out.

Have a good one.

Mike

Originally posted by Sgtmike88

Bite Me.

To this I reply, Grow Up. You too sound like some 15 y/o kid hiding behind the anonimity of the internet, trying to add some measure of validity to your dislike of laser pointers. Why am I skeptical? Too much detail regarding everything that happened, down to what stance you ended up in because of your training. Sounds fiction. Take a second to read your post, and listen to how excessive it sounds. It is crap like that that make the anti gunners want to take our right to carry away. Some nut carrying a pistol to the shower in a family campground (where they are most likely banned anyway), diving for cover, fixing to draw down on a little boy with a laser pointer. BTW, did you tell the boys family that you almost pulled your weapon on him?

Mike
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Traditionally, police departments in Texas do not purchase or issue weapons, and we buy our own. DPS are the only local LEOs I have seen using the 357 SIG. My department specifies the 40 S&W cartridge in SIG, Beretta, S&W, or Glock pistols, for all new duty weapons. Other weapons, including the 1911, are "grandfathered", and the 1911 is a very traditional choice for Texas peace officers. Most accidental/negligent discharges by officers around here are with Glocks. I have only been lasered twice. One saw my 1911 because of it, and the other did not. I have participated in traffic stops involving lasers probably half a dozen times, all back in the 80's when I worked in an area known for "cruising" by teens and young adults. Maybe in this area, people don't play as carelessly with lasers as in some other places. Now, I work an overtime shift once a week at a high school, and if I was lasered there, drawing my weapon would NOT be my first action. (Like I said before, it depends on the setting.) The idiot who lasered his daughter did not get charged, because, at the time, there was a supervisor present who figured this situation was better handled by an education in gun safety instead. When would I draw immediately if lasered? A good example would be upon arrival at a call, especially if a weapon is known to be involved, or say, an alarm call at a bank, where there is a high risk of encountering a team of professional burglars. Now back to the topic! A signal mirror only works if the sun is shining, and flares, while highly useful, may present an unacceptable fire danger. So, why not carry a small laser for signalling? And some orange smoke signals, and some orange dye for the water if offshore.... By the way, seeing the business end of my 1911 rarely means looking right down the barrel. Ever heard of "low ready?" Now let me go back to being my mellow old self.
 
BTW, most people who are lasered, and call the police, are just relieved to know they were not having a gun pointed at them, and none have wanted to press any charges. I did once take a report from several people, though, whose eyes were lasered, and they were concerned about eye damage. The suspects were not found, but if eye damage could have been confirmed medically, the suspect could have faced a year in jail for minor injury, or felony charges if damage was major or permanent. This is not funny. Some local musicians suffered long-term eye damage from lasers at a concert. Please use lasers that are safe!
 
Originally posted by Rex G
I have participated in traffic stops involving lasers probably half a dozen times, all back in the 80's when I worked in an area known for "cruising" by teens and young adults.
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That's interesting that all those kids had the money to fork over for a laser pointer. Back then, most of the laser pointers were very bulky, and if you did come across one of the pen style ones, you had to pay in excess of $100 for it. They haven't become the novelty items that they are now, where you can pick one up for less than $5 at any convenience store, until recently (last 5-6 years). I remember when they really became affordable was around 96-97 in my area. That is when you saw them showing up at ball games and such.

I would completely understand drawing your weapon if you saw a laser while responding to a high risk call such as an armed robbery or such. That would be expected. Of course, I would already have my weapon in the low ready position, until I deemed the scene to be safe.

I can also understand the concern regarding damage to someone's eyes if the laser is used improperly. I would also expect someone to be held liable if they caused damage to someone's eyes with a laser, if it could be proven that such damage occurred because of the laser. The only problem lies in the burden of proof required to show that some kid hurt your eyes. Who is to say that I didn't hurt my own eyes by shining my own laser into my eye to see how bright it was, then upon realising such damage, trying to nail some innocent kid with his own laser pointer. I could easily say he pointed the laser into my eye, when in fact he didn't. This could cause a bunch of frivolous law suites to add on to the other frivolous law suites that clog every court room daily.

BTW, I still feel they make a poor signaling device. I just know that I have had plenty of harmless fun with one with my dog, and with people walking down the street (by shining it on the road in front of them, not on them) Again, this was in 96 when they were starting to become very affordable and cheap. I really think they are starting to die out as a cool toy to the kids, because you see far fewer of them now.

Mike
 
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