Spyder III Pro Arctic Laser

I understand your point and agree to an extent, but firstly I doubt newspapers actually tell people 'where' to buy one of these from, not that anyone couldn't find a place within 10 seconds on Google. But I think it's wrong to blame the media for these lasers potentially getting into the wrong hands? Surely it's down to retailers and appropriate laws to ensure that an average Joe can't buy one without some kind of license?

License’s; now there a bad idea, you cannot license everything that can potentially be dangerous; otherwise it’s just going to get ridiculous. We already need a licence to drive a car, a licence to watch TV and a licence (registration) to buy a BB gun. How about just common sense! Just prosecute the individuals that do hurt people, instead of punishing EVERYONE because they MAY hurt someone.
 
I think they are also hyping the power of it.

Yes class 4 will blind you before you knew it, but I doubt it claims to be a high power burning tool.

It will probably zip through black electrical tape, & and pop balloons. It will also scorch wood. Just don't expect it to fire a hole through someone.

The specs say <1000mA, so it is not 1W but close.

The biggest isse is muppets pointing it at people, the law should class that as assault with a weapon.
 
License’s; now there a bad idea, you cannot license everything that can potentially be dangerous; otherwise it’s just going to get ridiculous. We already need a licence to drive a car, a licence to watch TV and a licence (registration) to buy a BB gun. How about just common sense! Just prosecute the individuals that do hurt people, instead of punishing EVERYONE because they MAY hurt someone.

If there was a legitimate use for a laser like this then I would agree with you, but so far I haven't seen anyone put forward one, other than it just being 'cool to own'. I think the line has to be drawn somewhere, lots of things are dangerous, such as many different kinds of sports, but the amount of danger associated with owning a laser like this is far too high to just have them so easily available.
 
Go on any UK BB Gun seller website ... and try to buy a bb gun ;)

Straight through to the checkout on the two I just tried? :p

I cant find anything on Google about that either, I think you are confusing it with 12.0 ft/lbs Air Rifles, you need a FAC for one over 12.0 ft/lbs of power, not a BB gun.

Unless it was some sort of supercharged BB gun that was of a far higher power than most.
 
If there was a legitimate use for a laser like this then I would agree with you, but so far I haven't seen anyone put forward one, other than it just being 'cool to own'. I think the line has to be drawn somewhere, lots of things are dangerous, such as many different kinds of sports, but the amount of danger associated with owning a laser like this is far too high to just have them so easily available.

Is enjoyment not a legitimate reason??? How many people have been killed from football stadium rampages and fights (100x more than anyone injured from laser attacks).
 
Straight through to the checkout on the two I just tried? :p

I cant find anything on Google about that either, I think you are confusing it with 12.0 ft/lbs Air Rifles, you need a FAC for one over 12.0 ft/lbs of power, not a BB gun.

Unless it was some sort of supercharged BB gun that was of a far higher power than most.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_in_airsoft#United_Kingdom

Have a read of the above link; bet you thought we lived in free country ehh ;)
 
Is enjoyment not a legitimate reason??? How many people have been killed from football stadium rampages and fights (100x more than anyone injured from laser attacks).

How many people go to football matches and how many buy dangerous lasers :p Surely you're not presenting that as a serious comparison?

Dangerous sporting events have safety measures in place that minimise the risk of accidents/fatalities. As far as I can see any normal Joe/chav with more money than sense can buy one of these lasers and start burning animals/people on the bus with it.
 
How many people go to football matches and how many buy dangerous lasers :p Surely you're not presenting that as a serious comparison?

Dangerous sporting events have safety measures in place that minimise the risk of accidents/fatalities. As far as I can see any normal Joe/chav with more money than sense can buy one of these lasers and start burning animals/people on the bus with it.

I am just saying, it seems fine in the eyes of the media for people to die and get injured through activities such as football (kicking a ball about a pitch = enjoyment) but anyone gets injured when 'playing' with lasers and zOMG they should be banned. Why should they get banned or licensed? Because the enjoyment is a little unconventional or less popular? :D
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_in_airsoft#United_Kingdom

Have a read of the above link; bet you thought we lived in free country ehh ;)

Having read that (albeit a bit briefly), it seems more aimed at selling imitation firearms, but mentions defending the sale of Airsoft guns?

Doesn't seem to be any issues ordering one online though, unless they are under this exemption? Or will they all be bright orange or something?

Anyway aside from that, as someone else said, what use/enjoyment do you get from one personally? (Purely out of interest, I'm not looking to judge :p)
 
I am just saying, it seems fine in the eyes of the media for people to die and get injured through activities such as football (kicking a ball about a pitch = enjoyment) but anyone gets injured when 'playing' with lasers and zOMG they should be banned. Why should they get banned or licensed? Because the enjoyment is a little unconventional or less popular? :D

It's pretty hard to debate this if you honestly think people playing football is as dangerous as a laser as powerful as this..
 
If I set my laser to the same power as theirs, it will mark the skin, not exactly cut through it.

You need about 10Watts (not Mw) to cut.

Still I can see lots of chav laser tatoos being done with these things.
 
They are already regulated, thats why its illegal for a shop to sell you a laser higher than class 2 in the UK.;)
Strange that it's not also illegal to import them. I mean handguns are banned here, if you imported one from somewhere where it was legal to buy/own it would get stopped by HMCE and you'd get prosecuted. Pretty sure it's the same deal for tazers too (though I think in that instance you're just sent a nasty letter telling you its been confiscated).

The nerd in me wants this but the fact it instantly blinds is just too scary to deal with. You've only got to slip or whatever and that's you've lost sight in one eye. I'm actually slightly apprehensive that there may end up being people actually using these in public. :eek:
 
It's pretty hard to debate this if you honestly think people playing football is as dangerous as a laser as powerful as this..

Well thats strange every football match I have ever been to always has; 300+ police in full riot gear with about 10 vans + horses and sometimes even helicopters, thats a lot of presence for something not dangerous

At least 93 football supporters have been killed in Britain's worst-ever sporting disaster.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/15/newsid_2491000/2491195.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...tball-fans-executed-for-watching-matches.html

http://menmedia.co.uk/news/s/431177_football_hooligan_is_jailed_for_fan_death

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/16/skewer-fan-arrest-115875-22189239/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2852774.ece

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/07/blackburn-supporter-death-stoke

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7094097.stm

Find me 1 article publising the death of someone caused by a laser pointer.
 
I don't think you can compare the two, the risk is more people being blinded than killed.

Added with the fact lasers of such power haven't been so readily available in the past, that is set to change now especially with all this publicity they are getting.

And your second link - Two Somali football fans have been killed by Islamic militants after being caught watching World Cup matches.

Really? :p
 
I don't think you can compare the two, the risk is more people being blinded than killed.

Added with the fact lasers of such power haven't been so readily available in the past, that is set to change now especially with all this publicity they are getting.

And your second link - Two Somali football fans have been killed by Islamic militants after being caught watching World Cup matches.

Really? :p

well I didnt read every article, just took them from google results. :p
 
Robbo has pretty much said everything I could say.

You're comparing a sport that has been around for years with tens of thousands of matches and million of spectators attending every year to an object bought for personal use which has only really become more popular recently, in fact this is the biggest ruckus I've ever noticed regarding laser pointers apart from when they were new, vastly underpowered and still considered a danger.

You've also reaffirmed my point that at football matches or public events where there is potential danger safety measures are put in place to minimise any risk. In fact I also wouldn't be surprised if at certain football matches you'd have to have an adult with you if you're under a certain age (I am not a football fan so cannot give accurate examples), does anything like this exist for minors who purchase these laser pens? As far as I'm aware there are no safety measures involved with ordering a laser off the internet, anyone with a debit card (how old do you have to be to get one now?) and enough money can order one and have it delivered.
 
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The intent of the user is all that matters. If someone were to buy the laser for the sole purpose of harming others i.e blinding people, then that would make said person the danger and not the pen. I could compare how it's the person who pulls the trigger and not the gun, argument.
 
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