Keep the Lasers Out of the Sky



Tuesday’s editorial:

Immature. Juvenile. Idiotic. Childish. Irresponsible. Reckless.

We’re running out of adjectives to describe the careless, dangerous beachgoers who’ve decided it fun to shine lasers at aircraft. But we’ll try.

Asinine. Naive. Puerile. Foolish. Infantile.

As the letter on today’s editorial page from the Coast Guard should illustrate, the situation is deadly serious.

Nobody should think it OK to point a laser at an aircraft. It’s that simple. And yet the complaints from pilots continue to roll in. Dozens were reported last year by pilots flying into Myrtle Beach International Airport, and the Coast Guard has been forced to suspend air rescue operations twice recently because pilots were struck by the lights.

Myrtle Beach City Council already took decisive action within the bounds of the city, banning minors from possessing or buying laser pointers. As we wrote last year when they took action, we’re often leery of allowing government to impose new restrictions on our freedoms, but in this case, the reward of allowing pilots to land without the threat of lights shining in their eyes or in their cockpits outweighs any damage to children’s freedom to buy green lasers.

Perhaps it’s time for Horry County Council to follow suit and institute its own rules. It’s always been the case that most of the beachwear stores that sell the lasers are located outside city limits. If residents and visitors can’t control themselves with the toys, they should not be trusted with them. It’s not just a minor annoyance, after all. Inappropriate use can mean real danger and risk the lives of both pilots and those on the ground. Any action to limit that danger would be welcome.

In the meantime, our list of adjectives grows.

Harebrained, nonsensical, ludicrous, stupid…

 

As the letter on today’s editorial page from the Coast Guard should illustrate, the situation is deadly serious.

Nobody should think it OK to point a laser at an aircraft. It’s that simple. And yet the complaints from pilots continue to roll in. Dozens were reported last year by pilots flying into Myrtle Beach International Airport, and the Coast Guard has been forced to suspend air rescue operations twice recently because pilots were struck by the lights.

Myrtle Beach City Council already took decisive action within the bounds of the city, banning minors from possessing or buying laser pointers. As we wrote last year when they took action, we’re often leery of allowing government to impose new restrictions on our freedoms, but in this case, the reward of allowing pilots to land without the threat of lights shining in their eyes or in their cockpits outweighs any damage to children’s freedom to buy green lasers.

Perhaps it’s time for Horry County Council to follow suit and institute its own rules. It’s always been the case that most of the beachwear stores that sell the lasers are located outside city limits. If residents and visitors can’t control themselves with the toys, they should not be trusted with them. It’s not just a minor annoyance, after all. Inappropriate use can mean real danger and risk the lives of both pilots and those on the ground. Any action to limit that danger would be welcome.

In the meantime, our list of adjectives grows.

Harebrained, nonsensical, ludicrous, stupid…