# 45 Non-terrorist charged under Patriot Act.

The guy might have committed an infraction, but he is not a terrorist and he is an American citizen and should be dealt with by normal American law, not some ostensively anti-terror act. That was not supposed to be the purpose of anti-terror legislation. What are they going to take first under the guise of preventing terror, my Bible, my guns, my cardboard cutters, or my laser pointers?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050105/D87DUR3O0.html

Man Charged Under Patriot Act for Laser

Jan 5, 8:37 AM (ET)

By WAYNE PARRYNEWARK, N.J.

(AP) - A man charged with temporarily blinding the pilot and co-pilot of an airplane with a laser beam claims he was simply using the device to look at stars with his 7-year-old daughter.

Federal authorities on Tuesday used the Patriot Act to charge David Banach, 38, with interfering with the operator of a mass transportation vehicle and making false statements to the FBI.

He is the first person arrested after a recent rash of reports around the nation of lasers being beamed at airplanes. If convicted, Banach could be sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined $500,000.

The FBI acknowledged the incident had no connection to terrorism but called Banach's actions "foolhardy and negligent."

"My client is in some ways a sacrificial lamb," attorney Gina Mendola-Longarzo said. "A message is being sent."