[FlyGuy]

Horto, I totally sympathize with yours and everyone else's concerns but I think that provided a well-conceived policy with extremely harsh penalties for violators is brought forth and understood by all, perhaps there may be some "wiggle room" on the subject...??

Ultimately, if the game organizer wants his or her game to be sans lasers, well dems da rules so remove your toy already or do not attend. Simple logic there.

BUT...

There may be other game hosts who recognize that with proper oversight, lasers can add an additional dimension of realism to the game. I think this has been touched on already or at least slightly grazed but...why not put the onus on the person bringing the laser to clear it with the game org. prior to taking it onto the field? For the same reasons that guns are checked, goggles are checked (or should be), why not ensure that no lasers are allowed unless the game organizer has personally checked each one and approved their use? IF there's any shred of doubt as to the authenticity/origin/safety rating of the device, then the responsible thing to do is for the organizer to deny the laser...period and no arguments from the player either - game control has final word...end of story. Anyone caught on the field with an unchecked/unapproved laser is immediately ejected with a permanent ban plus a name/shame (or ban) here on ASC.

For IR, Class 1 is pretty much it, anything else is fuhggetaboutit. For red visible, Class 1 would also be preferred but up to Class II - your natural blink reflex will prevent injury - should be permissible as it is considered eye-safe unless direct in-eye exposure is prolonged. For green visible, I would recommend blanket denial as they are more often Class 3b (not eye-safe) and for the devices using "offshore" green laser diodes, there's far too much unknown about the amount of IR leakage to be even remotely comfortable with them. In the case of red/IR, the very best way to ensure only devices meeting the above limits are permitted would be to first restrict anything that isn't manufactured by a reputable North American source (LDI, Insight, Streamlight, Crimson Trace, etc.). Beyond this, documentation should be provided by the user upon request proving the authenticity and safety (class ratings) of said laser otherwise, it's coming off the gun in full view of the game organizer before the player takes the field.

That said, it still does not relieve a laser user from employing some common sense with their device. If someone is acting like a jackass by constantly and continuously lasing faces, just like any other non-desirable activity (not calling hits, other cheating) would be brought to game control's attention, so should flagrant abuse of a laser device, and permission to use it summarily and permanently revoked.

Interesting topic and it has obviously provoked many responses and just as many different viewpoints. IMHO, it is ultimately up to the discretion of the game organizers to police this at their games as they see fit. What I have proposed above is merely a suggestion for some form of guideline or policy for those game hosts and players wishing to use lasers. It is by no means a "fait accompli" because it needs more refinement and tweaking, but I believe it speaks to both sides of the debate in a fair and equitable manner?


/Fly