My question on this matter which has always been there is:
Do these people and the general non-aviation public realise by trying to paint or hit a target (with a laser) which is thousands of feet away actually can cause a real danger to the aircraft?
Could this be more an issue of education? I know most people know not to aim them at people, however could they see an aircraft as an object which may be too far away to hit or cause any real damage?