There's more to it than one rumor. The lasers in question aren't the little pointers but rather big green industrial lasers. These can and will do damage and there is NO reason to point them at airplanes. You're well off the mark Dedalos including numbers. Hundreds of these incidents have occurred and they are taken very seriously by the FBI.
Comon now, you mean to tell me that someone successfully aimed and was able to track and airplanes window and a pilots eye? At what angle and distance? If you want to talk numbers do some calculations yourself to see what it would take to even hit the window for a split second.
Is there a reason to do it? Absolutely not. Is the reason it is a federal crime the fact you could injure the pilot? absolutely not. Can you use a laser to paint a target on a plane for a rocket? yes, and you need to make it a crime for that reason. Hurting a pilots eye would be impossible and even if you did, it would be more dangerous to do that to a driver in the expressway since there is no co pilot to drive your car.
I agree with the law for the reason above, but I find it funny how people jump on these things eating up what the news tells them.