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Two fearsome non-lethal weapons on their way to cops' hands
Look out, everybody — here come the trigger-happy cops with even more non-lethal weapons. Pictured above is the PHaSR, the bad-ass "Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response" rifle that's just about ready for deployment. It puts the hurt on you by dazzling you with laser light, while also burning your skin with an infrared laser. Let's just hope they set those PHaSRs on stun.
The next big, scary gun in development (but not quite ready for deployment) is the Active Denial System (ADS), blasting out a 6-foot-wide microwave beam that makes those evildoers want to jump back, pronto. Ouch. They rifles aren't going to kill you, but they'll make you wish you were dead until you get your carcass out of those hot rays.
It's good news that the police are developing weapons that don't kill people, but when you look at the way police are all-too-eager to use Tasers, you might consider whether this is a good thing or not. We're thinking they can be either good or bad, depending on who wields them. While we're wondering why we can't all get along, we're also thinking to ourselves, "Don't microwave me, bro!"
New Scientist, via Danger Room
By jedcred at 3:35 PM ON 12/26/08
Shrink this thing down to the size of a Wiimote and I'm sold.
"You had enough A button? Don't make me press B, buddy, don't make me!"
By notsofast at 7:22 PM ON 12/26/08
Actually these can kill you. If it is triggered multiple times over a few seconds it cause cause 3rd degree burns on over 50% of the body. Also, word is more than a few soilders were made sterile while handling this thing. To deploy this thing on the public would be criminal.
By DrMunzert at 8:06 PM ON 12/26/08
Microwave Weapons in Germany
There are already portable microwave weapons in use in Germany. They really work and can be used for torture!
THE MISUSE OF MICROWAVE WEAPONS BY CRIMINALS AND TERRORISTS
http://www.mikrowellenterror.de/english/index.htm
see also: Targeting the Human with Directed Energy Weapons
http://www.mikrowellenterror.de/english/mw-weapon.htm
Best wishes from Germany
Dr. Reinhard Munzert
By samuel at 8:09 PM ON 12/27/08
ABCNEWS: Army Orders Pain Ray Trucks; New Report Shows 'Potential for Death'
Dr. Altmann describes the Active Denial beam in some detail, noting that it will not be completely uniform; anyone unlucky enough to be caught in the center will experience more heating than someone at the edge. And perhaps more significant is his thorough analysis of the heating it produces -- and the cumulative effect if the target does not have the chance to cool down between exposures. In U.S. military tests, a fifteen-second delay between exposures was strictly observed; this may not happen when the ADS is used for real.
"As a consequence, the ADS provides the technical possibility to produce burns of second and third degree. Because the beam of diameter 2 m and above is wider than human size, such burns would occur over considerable parts of the body, up to 50% of its surface. Second- and third-degree burns covering more than 20% of the body surface are potentially life-threatening – due to toxic tissue-decay products and increased sensitivity to infection – and require intensive care in a specialized unit. "
By madamos at 11:09 PM ON 12/29/08
Any weapon can kill. The point behind these kinds of weapons is to give an option other than instantly lethal to police or soldiers. Do they have the potential for abuse? Absolutely - as do all police powers. I'm more concerned about general abuse of power than I am a taser or microwave weapon in specific.
By Lol at 1:45 AM ON 12/30/08
Omg you little sissies. You know what's lethal for sure, every time? A bullet to a vital organ. Know what deals permanent damage every time? A bullet to ANYTHING. The whole idea of less than lethal is that it gives you an option between trying to subdue by hand (only with numerical superiority and a non dangerous offender) and shooting. If the less than lethal was not there, the only choice would be to proceed to shooting. Cops and soldiers don't have to just sit there and let you kill or injure them.
I'm not one to love the cops, don't get me wrong. But whining about this is so childish. Are you really such a wimp that you can't take a brief flash of pain when you're being such a retard that the cops have to subdue you? Police will use the things in such a way as to keep from causing permanent harm, they like their jobs. Deal with it.
Oh, and if they can be raised to lethal levels then good. It's always nice to have that option if the less than lethal doesn't work. No matter how much of a liberal you are, you have to recognize that some people just need to be killed. Even if you don't, you'd realize it real quick if you were in a life or death situation. Quit deluding yourselves.
By JAFO at 11:11 AM ON 12/30/08
Microwave weapons eh?...So, will the body armor of the near future will consist of being covered in frozen burritos, or hot pockets?
By jLudwick at 11:50 PM ON 12/30/08
There's another name for Hurt That Doesn't Kill You. "Torture". How many times can you be hit and not die? 100? 1000? That'll make someone talk.
I'd rather be shot, bitches.
By ikte at 2:24 AM ON 12/31/08
That's right, make it easier for us to be corralled and controlled like the sheep we are becoming. I guess most people want big brother to tell them what to do and when... where should the freedom lovers go though?
By phoenix at 5:09 AM ON 01/02/09
LOL... yes. Corralled and controlled like sheep. 'Cause the cops in my neighborhood routinely drive up and down the street herding people with tasers, beanbag rounds, and pepper spray. Goddamn big brother out to make me a goddamn sheep. Those rat bastards. *laughs at the kneejerk reactions*
By TIPPI MARAVALA at 7:15 AM ON 04/24/09
THE COPS MUST NOT USE THESE ON THEIR X WIVIES . AND THE HOME OFFICE SHOULD HELP NOT TURN OTHER CHEEK
on your cellphone!
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TIPPI MARAVALA:
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