Non-Lethal Force

The development of more powerful and effective non-lethal weapons in recent years has been an important tool for law enforcement - allowing police to defuse serious violence in countless cases without taking lives. But like any weapon in the hands of the police or the public, non-lethal weapons - from batons to Tasers - can and will be misused.

A new report from Amnesty International examines the widespread use of Tasers by law enforcement around the world today, questioning the casual use of these dangerous weapons and calling for more research into the health risks of using Tasers. The report points to as many as 330 deaths in the U.S. since 2001 that may have been caused by Tasers, and raises an eyebrow at the uncontrolled availablility of Tasers to the public.

From the report:

Amnesty International believes that Tasers and similar conducted energy weapons are inherently open to abuse as they are easy to carry and easy to use and they can inflict severe pain at the push of a button without leaving substantial marks. The capacity to use such weapons close- up as “touch stun” guns, often when individuals are already in custody, and to inflict repeated or prolonged shocks, makes them even more prone to abuse.

One of the organization’s concerns – documented in this and earlier reports – is that many US law enforcement agencies deploy CEDs as a relatively low-level force option to subdue non-compliant or disturbed individuals who do not pose a significant threat.5 As described below, such cases have included use of Tasers on schoolchildren; pregnant women; people who are mentally ill or intoxicated; elderly people with dementia and individuals suffering from the effects of medical conditions such as epileptic seizures.

Amnesty's report is an important voice of caution as these weapons become more widely used by law enforcement officers and the military. Like so much of the technology we adopt without careful study, the health risk of Tasers should be closely examined. That said, I think Tasers are probably a good weapon for police to carry. They already have guns, right? If the possession of Tasers prevents a dozen shootings of suspects a year, it would be worth it.

An article earlier this year in the New Yorker took a look at the current state of non-lethal weaponry, and found a fascinating world of sci-fi invention. Manufacturers usually develop non-lethal weapons for the military, which has more money, and then modify the weapons for cops. Police like non-lethal weapons not only because they save lives, but they also save them from lawsuits. Reporter Alec Wilkinson writes about a foam used in Somalia to stick a suspect to the ground, devices that emit unbearable sounds, and a "pain ray" that shoots a beam of energy hundreds of feet and heats a subjects skin to 130 degrees. (That one won't be used by cops anytime soon, but Raytheon makes it for the U.S. military)

Law enforcement will likely make more use of non-lethal weapons in the years to come, and overall this will save lives and help officers do their job. The most powerful weapons (like Tasers and pain rays) need to come with as much training as guns, however, as they are potentially very dangerous.

In the meantime, if you're still looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, Tasers are on sale at the Taser SuperStore and you can probably carry one around in your state without a permit. Think of the fun your kids can have under the Christmas Tree!

(Hat tip to scott at Grits for Breakfast for pointing me to the Amnesty Report)