When lasers are outlawed...

...only outlaws will have lasers:

A major Australian state has banned laser pointers after a spate of incidents in which aircraft pilots have been temporarily blinded, the government said on Monday.

High-powered hand lasers, including so-called "star pointers" used by astronomers, would be listed as prohibited weapons in New South Wales state with jail terms of up to 14 years for anyone carrying them without a permit.

"It is a gutless and cowardly act that could result in an horrific outcome. It only takes a fraction of a second for a pilot to become temporarily blinded and that could have catastrophic consequences," said state Premier Morris Iemma.

Several pilots have recently reported high-intensity lasers being shone into their cockpits during take-offs and landings, and police recently enlisted intelligence agencies to help combat what papers called "laser lunatics."

Normally, I'd say that sounds pretty sensationalistic, but here, it sounds pretty accurate. I mean, what kind of whackjob tries to blind a pilot? Everybody knows that you should only blind your friends with lasers. They'll find it hilarious.

Unless, of course, they're pilots trying to take off or land aircraft.