Laser beams to blind snipers

[Chisel Head]

There are devices, on the market, for detecting snipers. These are hybrid versions of the original sniper blinder developed by the Pentagon for use against Serbian snipers in Sarajevo. The Pentagon has never knowingly used this weapon, for "humanitarian" reasons (As if the Pentagon has a reputation of being philanthropic). Theoretically, this laser device could heat up the plasma, within the eyeball, so rapidly that the expanding vapor would cause a lethal expolsion. The technology is there and cannot, therefore, as with atomic warheads, not able to be de-invented.
Who is to guarantee that this weapon will not be used to quell civil insurrection?
How can one safeguard against an assault by any of these weapons landing in the wrong hands?

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=127034

...The Mirage, a hand-held binocular device provided by the San Diego-based company Torrey Pines Logic Inc., sends out a defocused, eye-safe laser up to 1.2 kilometers. The laser bounces off all objects in view, but when it hits the layered optics of a gun scope or other similar devices, it sends back an image in real-time that highlights the exact location of the shooter or observer.

“If you pick up an optic, it literally blooms in this view. It looks like a light shining back at you, even though it’s not a light. It’s really the reflection of the diffused laser,” says Mike Konrad, co-owner of 4ISR LLC, a business partner of Torrey Pines...

Here is a rather harmless version:

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2006/July/SnipersCannotHide.htm

http://www.pennwellblogs.com/mae/2008/01/will-human-sight-be-worst-casualty-of.html

...It's not lost on me that the naked eye also is an optical lens of sorts. Imagine what a laser crazer would do to the human eye. Now visualize the blind coming back from war...

http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2004/04fisher_report/5hitech.htm

...One system marketed at the 2003 Moscow Airshow, the Nudelman Precision Engineering Bureau’s PAPV uses lasers to locate enemy optics, like a sniper scope, and deliver a laser blast that blinds the sniper, or worse...

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I'm pretty good with peep sights out to 600 yards...

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Who is to guarantee that this weapon will not be used to quell civil insurrection?

Are you planning a civil insurrection? Who is to guarantee that any weapon won't be used is a more realistic question and one without any realistic answer. When you become the enemy of another, and try to do them harm, expect them to fight you with what they have.

Unless it is just a protest, civil insurrections usually aren't.

 

[Chisel Head]

Even just protests have often been answered with unjust measures. And the trend is proliferating

 

[inherentical]

Back in the early '90s we had MULE laser designators that could blind people downrange pretty easily. They'd been around for a while, too.

 

[hso]

It doesn't sound like anything new. Lasers could temporarily blind 30 years ago. Plenty of them could permanently blind. The technology has advanced, but it's always the applications that matter.

BTW, laser safety goggles are readily available from any safety supply store.

 

[Funderb]

you cant just move out of the way?

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Who is to guarantee that this weapon will not be used to quell civil insurrection?

What's to gaurantee any weapon isn't used to quell civilian insurrection? If it's a violent uprising, it would sure be better than shooting them.

Even just protests have often been answered with unjust measures. And the trend is proliferating

Lawyers and government bean counters will prevent that.
They already have crowd control methods that aren't as likely to bring lawsuits.

 

[Pax Jordana]

Passing a laser through a lens diffuses it. Diffuse laser light is...... light. So on the far end of a scope, all you get is one immensely bright light.

With all due respect, I believe you've misread your source.

Theoretically, this laser device could heat up the plasma, within the eyeball, so rapidly that the expanding vapor would cause a lethal expolsion.

Nowhere is that written in the source material, and from an anatomical standpoint I'd find it unlikely that one would be killed by their own exploding eyeballs.

Yes, you could blind with it, but that's not its purpose. Same way you can kill a person with a walking stick, or stab them with a pen.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Even just protests have often been answered with unjust measures. And the trend is proliferating

Gimme a break. As noted, there are all sorts of weapons that could be used. What keeps any of them from being used? Why are you worried about this particular one?

Theoretically, this laser device could heat up the plasma, within the eyeball, so rapidly that the expanding vapor would cause a lethal expolsion.

As noted by PJ, this isn't in the articles. It is rather silly.

 

[mgregg85]

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There are devices, on the market, for detecting snipers. These are hybrid versions of the original sniper blinder developed by the Pentagon for use against Serbian snipers in Sarajevo. The Pentagon has never knowingly used this weapon, for "humanitarian" reasons (As if the Pentagon has a reputation of being philanthropic). Theoretically, this laser device could heat up the plasma, within the eyeball, so rapidly that the expanding vapor would cause a lethal expolsion.

I'm sorry but that first part really sounds like something from gecko45.

I wonder if they could mount this on a 'modified electric vehicle'?

 

[RyanM]

Theoretically, this laser device could heat up the plasma, within the eyeball, so rapidly that the expanding vapor would cause a lethal expolsion.

Aside from the optical properties of lenses, covered, you've also got diffusion of the laser, and interference from dust particles.

Effective laser weapons would be much shorter ranged than firearms, contrary to popular notions. Count on about 50 feet, not yards, but feet, as the effective range of lethal laser weaponry for the next few decades. Something that's only lethal out to 50 feet isn't much of an anti-sniping measure, is it?

Could still blind someone far past that, of course.

 

[Chisel Head]

...Gimme a break. As noted, there are all sorts of weapons that could be used. What keeps any of them from being used? Why are you worried about this particular one?...

I'm worried about any effective weapon which someone has up their sleeves which could be used against those who are unwilling to surrender their firearms. Especially, during uncertain times which start in a couple weeks where it will be decided who takes charge. We don't know what either one has in store for gun owners. Especially, the non-conservative one. In which case, we won't be able to secure our conventional weapons using conventional weapons.
An alternative plan is needed.
I reside in a disarmed country. And, believe me, it sucks