Thu, Jan 06, 2005
John Acres' Jasper "Most Powerful Class III Laser Money Can
Buy"
As the government continues to press
its case against a New Jersey man who's reportedly admitted he
shone a powerful handheld laser on at least two aircraft over the
past few weeks, what's happening with the company that sold it to
him?
Indeed, inventor and entrepreneur John Acres says he's been
questioned by the FBI on the matter -- but won't say much more than
that. His Jasper Class III laser -- "the most powerful Class III
laser money can buy" -- has been on the market for seven months,
selling for $119 through his website.
"I don't feel embarrassed; I feel bad for the guy that he was
dumb enough to do this. It's a great tool for thousands of people
who love it," Acres said in a phone interview with the Portland
Oregonian.
"You always hear about that one person in a thousand who does
something unbelievably dumb, and you just wonder why," Acres told
the paper.
Acres said his handheld laser, which is about the size of a
flashlight, can light up targets that are several miles away.
Birdwatchers use the Jasper to spot specific birds in specific
trees, although Acres cautions them not to shine the laser in
birds' eyes. The light is so intense that Acres said astronomy
buffs and professors use it to point out individual stars in the
sky.
Acres apparently faces no criminal allegations at this point.
The Jasper is still on the market, as are a number of other
handheld Class III lasers built and marketed by other companies. On
the other hand, as ANN has reported, New Jersey resident David
Banach faces 25-years in prison and a $500,000 fine if convicted
under the Patriot Act. He was arraigned by a federal magistrate on
Tuesday and freed on $100,000 bond.
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