Home made laser sights legality?

[Deja vu]

So my nephew brought home this handheld green laser that is so bright that it can pop balloons and start fires.

While this would not be very practical on a firearm I am wondering if it would be legal. The size is too big for a firearm in my opinion. Its about the size of the old police flashlights that used 4 D cell batteries so this is jut an academic question.

The laser is a class 4 laser meaning you have to wear special sun glasses when using it because it can toast your eyes. People say its about as bright as a welder.

so basically I know its a bad idea and I wont do it I am just wandering if its legal.

 

[skoro]

Sounds to me like a laser that isn't legal to own outside an academic or research lab.

 

[Brian Pfleuger]

Higher powered lasers are not generally illegal. Why would they be? They're about as dangerous as a match or welder or Fresnel lens and a lot less dangerous than a gun.

I see no reason why it'd be illegal on a gun either, though I also see no reason/benefit for it.

 

[Vt.birdhunter]

Power level limits are set by the Code of Federal Regulations for laser pointers at 5 milliwatts. I see no mention of more powerful lasers being "illegal"; just potentially dangerous.
Not sure if limits are for manufacturers or refer to private ownership.

First gun control, now laser control??? Buck rogers is shaking his head in disgust

 

[Brian Pfleuger]

There's a legal limit to how powerful a laser can be and be marketed as a "pointer" but more powerful lasers are perfectly legal.

 

[Frank Ettin]

The legal issues will revolve not around the thing itself -- but how it's used and the consequences.

So if you use it in a way that results in someone's property being burned or someone being injured, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll have legal problems.

But this really isn't a proper subject for T&T.