Ban dangerous laser pointer
In the past, police officers, pilots, streetcar drivers and other employees of blue-light organizations were often injured by laser pointer attacks. Now the devices are banned.
The Association of Swiss Police Officers (VSPB) has always demanded that not only the acquisition but also the possession of dangerous laser pointers be banned in Switzerland. After the Council of States approved the Federal Law on Protection against Hazards from Non-Ionizing Radiation and Sound in March 2017, the National Council has just approved the law as well. "We are very pleased and relieved that the possession of these weapons will finally be banned," says VSPB President Johanna Bundi Ryser.
Dangerous for the eyes
According to the VSPB, shining a laser pointer into the eyes of those affected can have devastating consequences. Regeneration of the retina can take several years. Sometimes the damage is permanent and even blindness is possible. "For us, these are weapons," says Bundi Ryser, who also emphasizes: "Laser attacks - like all violence against the police - have increased massively. This is unacceptable, because injured police officers cannot ensure safety."
