Editing Laser pointer (section)

===Malicious use===
{{Main|Laser safety|Lasers and aviation safety}}
Laser pointers, with their very long range, are often maliciously shone at people to distract or annoy them, or for fun. This is considered particularly hazardous in the case of aircraft pilots, who may be dazzled or distracted at critical times.

According to an MSNBC report there were over 2,836 incidents logged in the US by the FAA in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41156165/ns/travel-news/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121223113/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41156165/ns/travel-news/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 January 2011 |title=FAA: Laser incidents soar, threaten planes - Travel - News |publisher=MSNBC |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> Illumination by handheld green lasers is particularly serious, as the wavelength (532&nbsp;nm) is near peak sensitivity of the dark-adapted eye and may appear to be 35 times brighter than a red laser of identical power output.<ref name="faagl">{{cite web| last =Nakagawara| first =Van B., DO| url =http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/laser_hazards_web.pdf| title =Laser Hazards in Navigable Airspace| publisher =FAA| access-date =15 December 2011| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111216083826/http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/laser_hazards_web.pdf| archive-date =16 December 2011| url-status =dead| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

Irresponsible use of laser pointers is often frowned upon by members of the laser projector community who fear that their misuse may result in legislation affecting lasers designed to be placed within projectors and used within the entertainment industry. Others involved in activities where dazzling or distraction are dangerous are also a concern.

Another distressing and potentially dangerous misuse of laser pointers is to use them when the dot may reasonably be mistaken for that of a laser gun sight. Armed [[police]] have drawn their weapons in such circumstances.<ref name=princeton/>