San Antonio Among Top 15 Cities for Laser Strikes Against Aircraft!

[bspray]

Originally Posted by ged_782

What I'm asking is this:

Would it be better to prevent a crime, or let someone become a victim of a crime, so that the perpetrator can be caught, thereby allowing someone to collect a cash reward?

I'm guessing you've never been a victim of a crime. I have, and I would have greatly preferred that those crimes been prevented in the first place.

How you define 'a crime' and how you define 'a victim' would determine whether or not I've ever been a victim by your standards.

I've had my car broken into and things were taken from my car. Would I have preferred that someone stop the crime as opposed to letting it happen and then turning them in? I am not sure there is a preference from my perspective.

What I think I would prefer is that the person commiting the crime is caught and punished. I would hope that a lesson was learned and that person didn't go on to commit more crime.

If the person that broke into my car had been stopped before the crime was commited, with no consequences, I would bet they are likely to go out and commit that crime again at some point so I don't think I would consider that a good solution. Certainly better for me in some ways but potentially worse for me in others if the next crime that person commits is violent and they happen to commit it against me or someone I care about.

In the case of shining a laser at an aircraft, I think as a passenger on that aircraft, I would be equally pleased with either option.

[Merovee]

Originally Posted by rattle axis

Article states most offenders are teens and adults between 35-45 between midnight and 7 AM. So, miscreants, and drunks. Nothing good happens in San Antonio during those hours. None of these offenders are of correct mind to weigh the possible consequences of their actions. Is the general law abiding, productive to society citizen going to be awake to notice and report this sort of activity? Probably not.

You can't prevent a jacka$$ from being just that, maybe there are things that can be done preemptively to render their actions pointless? I wonder if some technology exists or could be developed to deflect, screen, or otherwise render a laser strike ineffective to the pilots? I would be interested to hear from someone in the know on that. Surely military aircraft have some defense against this sort of thing, right? Makes good sense to apply that to commercial and private aircraft as well when so many lives can be put at risk from one person's bad judgement.

This is a bit of sleep discrimination to judge a whole group one is not even around or awake to judge. Had a bit of arson here once and the neighbor who was awake quickly came to rouse us and began setting out the fire with our manguera.

It is likely that these other people are just bored and lonely while everyone else they know is asleep so they make foolish decisions like lasing a plane. They are likely not drunk because even that might relieve their boredom and anyone that tipsy or sloshed CBA to do something like that.

[chud]

Originally Posted by Spursrock

Lol okay

Beat me to it.



Drama...

[jameshardin]

Ok here is my question, why the heck would anyone do this in the first place? Are they trying to be funny? Or are they actually trying to cause damage to the air crew, therefore endangering travelers. I just don't see how it could even be amusing to try and do this. What is the motivation?

[rattle axis]

Originally Posted by Merovee

This is a bit of sleep discrimination to judge a whole group one is not even around or awake to judge. Had a bit of arson here once and the neighbor who was awake quickly came to rouse us and began setting out the fire with our manguera.

It is likely that these other people are just bored and lonely while everyone else they know is asleep so they make foolish decisions like lasing a plane. They are likely not drunk because even that might relieve their boredom and anyone that tipsy or sloshed CBA to do something like that.

Sleep discrimination? That was a new one for me, didn't realize there was such an item until I followed your link. I meant no offense, and apoligize if you were offended. I only meant to convey that under the cover of darkness when the general populous is asleep, bad people tend to do bad things in San Antonio (or anywhere) as there are a lot less open eyes to catch them in the act.

I'm not in agreement on the drunk point. Alchohol impairs judgement. People do things they wouldn't normally do, even if bored.

FWIW, until recently, I would run daily at 4 am. I have personally encountered: Tagging in progress, drug use in a city park, car burglary in progress, and a house burglary (after it was done). Although I couldn't prevent any of them, I was able to report them after the fact. Reporting after the fact wouldn't help those folks on a plane or the families sleeping peacefully below if something horrible were to happen. So, that said... back to topic.

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by Merovee

This is a bit of sleep discrimination to judge a whole group one is not even around or awake to judge. Had a bit of arson here once and the neighbor who was awake quickly came to rouse us and began setting out the fire with our manguera.

It is likely that these other people are just bored and lonely while everyone else they know is asleep so they make foolish decisions like lasing a plane. They are likely not drunk because even that might relieve their boredom and anyone that tipsy or sloshed CBA to do something like that.

Are you sure the insomniac wasn't also the arsonist? Or is that more sleep discrimination? That actually does happen, though. The one who sets the fire either watches from afar or is the hero for saving everyone.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Merovee

Isn't their equipment in the cockpits of aircraft which allow them to zero in on anyone lasing them?

No. They do not have equipment to zero in on the laser. With the increase of low cost laser devices over the years the problem has increased.