[Tricks]

How is this breaking international law?

[herbie]

What's the point of a laser that's a non-lethal? WTF is this Star Trek? We want POOF - cloud of fucking smoke - so long sucker DEATH RAY stuff. And a patent so goddam tight the US's own courts will make them shell out $1000 per unit in royalties!

[DrCaleb]

Tricks Tricks:

How is this breaking international law?

There is a "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious" or "Humane Weapons" treaty.

Think 'land mines'. Basically, weapons designed to injure are banned. Weapons designed to kill (more, faster, better) are OK, just not ones designed to injure.

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/ares51-49.htm

Look here, under 'Disarmament' as well.

http://untreaty.un.org/English/CTC/CTC_2_03.asp

[ridenrain]

Has anyone used a dazzler yet? The only time I heard about one was when a Canadian helio got too close to a russian spy ship.

[Tricks]

Does this permanently blind them?

Should just build a Death Star. Death Star = win as long as there are no Jedi...

[ridenrain]

The purpose is to temporarally blind and diorient folks at a distance.
If all they see are spots, they can't aim.
By using a lazer instead of a flashlight, they can direct the beam with accuracy and it carries the energy farther so it won't have to be blinding up close.

Here's an example of the sort of thing we're talking about:
http://www.laserdazzler.net/

[Tricks]

So not permanent. Don't see how it should violate any rules.

[ShepherdsDog]

What do rules mean to those of you who serve the Dark Side?

[Tricks]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

What do rules mean to those of you who serve the Dark Side?

[C.M. Burns]

Tricks Tricks:

So not permanent. Don't see how it should violate any rules.

If not used properly it can cause permanent blindness.

[C.M. Burns]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

C.M. Burns C.M. Burns:

In related news, terrrrrists start wearing sunglasses.
In related news, US government makes wearing sunglasses illegal

I see your sunglasses, and raise you optical safety glasses.

http://www.phillips-safety.com/Laser-Sa ... /Index.htm

In related news, US government makes safety illegal.

[Tricks]

C.M. Burns C.M. Burns:

Tricks Tricks:

So not permanent. Don't see how it should violate any rules.

If not used properly it can cause permanent blindness.

What's not using it properly? Not pointing it at their eyes?