An aiming pattern assembly for an imaging-based bar code reader including: a laser assembly laterally offset from an imaging lens assembly optical axis, the laser assembly including a first laser light source and a second laser light source; and a focusing lens defining an optical axis and positioned proximate to the laser assembly, the focusing lens focusing the laser light generated by the first laser light source to generate a first aiming pattern traversing along a first beam path and focusing the laser light generated by the second laser light source to generate a second aiming pattern traversing along a second beam path, the first laser light source being aligned with the focusing lens optical axis and the second laser light source being laterally offset from the focusing lens optical axis resulting in the second beam path crossing the imaging lens assembly optical axis in a near working range.