I was a NORAD Mission Crew Commander in the Eastern Air Defense Sector, so I am very familiar with the "Sparkle" laser warning system in the Restricted Airspace around Washington DC. Yes, you are right, under very specific circumstances, trained military personnel illuminate aircraft violating the Restricted Airspace (either the SFRA or the FRZ) with a laser. This is one step in the escalation of the use of force Rules of Engagement, and is rarely done and only when it provides the best option to make the aircraft violating that airspace turn away.
I am also acutely aware of pilots on approach into airports (for some reason it is worst around Newark, Reagan National and La Guardia) of pilots calling in emergencies after somebody illuminated the flight deck with a laser and the pilot or copilot was incapacitated to a degree. In most cases, it is limited to a total loss of night vision due to a blinding flash of light and "seeing spots" both of which often go away after a few hours, but until the aircraft is on the ground, the safety of everyone onboard has been compromised.
As a part of my training, I have had the RCAF Land Survival Course, the RCAF Sea Survival Course and the RCAF Search and Rescue Airborne Spotters Course. In any of those courses, when the topic of using a laser was mentioned, the SARTechs (think the same thing as USAF Para Rescue or USCG Rescue Swimmer) teaching the course, universally said that it is about the worst thing that you could do. As others have said, if any member of the crew is illuminated, the pilot will not care who is lasing them or why, they will immediately turn around and RTB.
I agree, we owe it to Cameron to be "honest and realistic" yet an important part of that is that when somebody who actually knows what they are talking about says something, their opinions should not automatically be disregarded. As I said before, in sunny weather, your best option is a good old fashions rescue mirror, and when it isn't sunny, a flashing strobe (see post 18).
