Chez Chesler

A local man is facing charges for pointing a laser at a state police helicopter that was guarding one of the Liquified Natural Gas tankers. Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Robert Bousquet said "the light never interfered with the pilots’ vision, nor is there any link to a terrorist threat" explaining that the big search was because "the possibilities for criminal intent are broad when a pilot is facing down a laser beam." The possibilities are broad, and no more likely, when the pilot is not facing down a laser beam. He was quoted in the Herald today as saying "“As you can imagine, there are concerns when a laser hits an aircraft like this because you don’t know what is on the other end of it." I would imagine that at the other end of the laser beam is a laser. The articles say that illuminating an aircraft is a federal offense. Anybody have a citation? I'd like to know the elements of that crime, because I have an upward-facing light to illuminate my flag pole, in accordance with the US Flag Code, and it's conceivable some photons from that light could reach an aircraft. How about to the "Title 18 Section 1001 of the PATRIOT act about pseudoephidrene?

Saugus High School went into lockdown on Friday because "the superintendent's office received an anonymous call from someone claiming there was a gun inside the school". The superintendent Keith Manville said "In this day and age you don't make the assumption it isn't, you have to react to it". Is there any correlation between threats like this, or the graffiti in a Billerica bathroom last week, and actual guns and shootings? Why does Superintendent Manville assume that the school is safe any other day? Of course by calling in the police, he assured that there would be guns in the school. Meanwhile, last week in Billerica students were subject to increased scrutiny. I'd heard one report that they weren't permitted backpacks, but this report only said they were X-rayed. Peter Gelzinis had a column in Sunday's Herald on school lockdowns, and I asked what kind of parent cares so little for his or her children as to send them to school on such a day? If there is no increased risk they're just making a show; if there is an increased risk, is exposing one's children to it worth more than letting them miss a day of mostly going over what was taught the day before?

Labels: guns, lockdowns, schools

Police investigate death of man hit by cruisers Associated Press - December 10, 2007 9:15 AM ET DOVER, Vt. (AP) - An autopsy is expected to be performed today on the body of a man who was struck by two state police cruisers in Dover. Police say they still don't know yet what killed 22-year-old Gerald Peterson of Dover, who they say was laying in the road when he was hit.

I read this wire service story in this morning's Boston Herald

DOVER, Vt. - The Vermont State Police and Dover police are investigating what is being called the untimely death of a 22-year-old man hit by two state police cruisers while laying in the travel lane of Route 100 early yesterday morning. The victim is identified as Gerald Peterson of Dover.

Inquiring minds want to know what or whom Mr. Peterson was laying. To their credit, The Burlington Free Press reports thusly:

DOVER -- The Vermont State Police and Dover police are investigating what is being called the untimely death of a 22-year-old man hit by two state police cruisers while lying in the travel lane of Vermont 100 early Sunday morning.

Labels: grammar