Twelve-year old Paul asks about non-lethal weapons
As spring approaches it seems that my adopted niece and nephew are busier than ever with school functions and spring sports. They had also just gotten back from a brief vacation trip with their parents who had scheduled it for the spring break. Thus, I was delighted when twelve-year old Paul called to ask if I could help him with a school project. I had already made up the blueberry pancake batter and made the hot chocolate since I knew that Paul had to be at soccer practice in a couple of hours.
I look across to the house he and Sam share with their parents and see him just coming out of the kitchen door.
Me: Good morning Paul. Did you and the family have a good time on your trip?
Paul: We did Uncle Jim. We went camping and it did not rain much. I love to camp, but I hate it when it is raining although I do get more frogs to put in Sam’s sleeping bag when it is raining. She really hates that!
Me: I am sure that she does. How are Sam and your parents?
Paul: They are fine. Mom wants to know if you will make homemade dinner rolls and bring to dinner tonight?
Me: Sure I will. How many people are coming to dinner?
Paul: Me, Sam, mom and dad, our neighbors and Jenny and their children Tommy and Eldon. How many is that Uncle Jim?
Me: I think that is nine with me. Of course, we will have to have an extra one or two for Oscar even though we are not supposed to feed him from the table! Oh, shall I start the pancakes? The hot chocolate is already made. Do you want some?
Paul: Yes, please.
Paul: Oscar and I love your rolls although I am glad I do not have to nibble at your feet to get them and eat them off the floor under the dining room table!
Me: Yes, that is an advantage of being human! Now what is homework assignment Paul?
Paul: Here is the assignment Uncle Jim.
Me: “Research the reason for and against the use of non-lethal weapons by the police in the United States. For this assignment do not include any information or discussion about the use of non-lethal force by military forces.” Okay, what have you found out so far, Paul.
(The pancakes our done. I make a plate for Paul and one for me and then hand Paul the blueberry syrup we had made last year and which I have warmed up.)
Paul: Thanks Uncle Jim.
Me: Back to work. what have you found out so far Paul?
Paul: Well, Uncle Jim there are a lot of non-lethal weapons.
Me: Yes, I did not realize how many there are until I did a little research myself. I guess we better start with the term non-lethal. What do you think it means Paul?
Paul: I knew you would ask Uncle Jim. I looked it up even though I thought I knew. It means death or killing. In this case it means weapons which do not kill, but all the so called non-lethal weapons can sometimes kill can’t they Uncle Jim?
Me: Yes, they can. So what we are really talking about are weapons designed to be non-lethal but which sometimes can kill. So, shall we use the laptop or the kitchen white board?
Paul: Can we use both Uncle Jim?
Me: Sure I will use the white board and you can use the laptop. Okay?
Paul: Great. So the first thing is to write down the assignment.
I write it on the board and Paul types it in the computer.
“Research the reason for and against the use of non-lethal weapons by the police in the United States. For this assignment do not include any information or discussion about the use of non-lethal force by military forces.”
Me: Great. So shall we make a note that what we are really talking about are weapons which are sometime lethal but not designed to be lethal. I read that they are now calling them less-lethal weapons. What are some of these weapons Paul?
Paul: There are a lot of them. These are some of the most common Uncle Jim:
“Light As a Less-Lethal Weapon
The new school of thought is to use light as a less-lethal weapon. The light is used to confuse, disable, and dominate your suspect. Powerful small flashlights that can be carried on your belt and produce 200 lumens or more (along with a built in strobe capability) are now used in room clearing to search out, make contact with, and control a suspect…
Chemical Agents
The most widespread less-lethal weapons are chemical agents dispersed in aerosol form. The three most widely used are CS, OC, or a combination of both. Regardless of what type you use, the effects are about the same; the suspect feels pain, burning, and irritation of exposed mucous membranes and skin. Some agents target the eyes to compromise vision. Others target the suspect's mouth, nose, and throat in order to adversely affect breathing.
Conducted Electrical Weapons
The most recent data I can find estimated that there are more than 11,000 agencies that use Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs). CEWs work by sending electronic pulses throughout the body that interfere with the communication between the brain and the muscles. They overwhelm the normal communication network, causing involuntary muscle contractions and impairment of motor function.
Projectile Weapons
Another long standing group of less-lethal weapons are those that fire some type of blunt force round. The round is designed to cause pain but not penetrate the skin. It transfers and disperses its kinetic energy into its target. The most common rounds are those fired from a shotgun. The projectiles themselves come in a bean-bag form or fire some type of rubberized bullet.
Launchable Pepper Projectiles
Instead of shooting paint balls, they shoot a type of OC pepper-spray pellet instead. Such projectiles contain pepper powder in hard frangible spheres that have a wide operating temperature range and can be deployed with specialized launchers...”
Policemag.com
Me: That is a great list and similar to the overview of the lists that I found. I found one document which claimed to have 54 pages covering some of the options.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages Paul?
Paul: Uncle Jim, the obvious advantage is that these less-lethal weapons do not usually cause death.
Me: Why is that an advantage Paul?
Paul: Well, in our house, as you know, we do not believe in killing. We believe that if police kill less often it is good modeling for the rest of the community.
Me: Great point Paul. Are there any other advantages?
Paul: Just the other day the police shot some kid who had an air gun. They said they could not tell that it was an air gun. If they had used a less-lethal weapon the kid probably would still be alive.
Me: Great. How shall we list that advantage? How about mistakes are not as likely to be tragic?
Paul: Sounds good Uncle Jim. Can you think of another advantages Uncle Jim.
Me: The person has another chance to change his or her life and the law enforcement person does not feel so bad, especially if they make a mistake and shot a child. What else Paul? Do you think it is less expensive to use less-lethal weapons?
Paul: Do you mean that the weapons are cheaper Uncle Jim?
Me: No, I am not sure that is always the case. What are some of the costs involved in not killing someone or badly injuring them? Let’s list them:
Possibly lower medical costs. It is expensive to treat fatal or near fatal injuries.
Paul: I am always reading stories of someone who starts off bad and then becomes a very famous person who owns a business or something.
Possibly later making money and paying taxes or doing something really important.
Me: Great. How about?
Less money on police to handle demonstrations and riots following the killing or near killing by police?
Paul: That is great Uncle Jim. How about?
Less money on law suits after a killing but more money on jail and court trials.
Me: That is accurate Paul. What are some of the other disadvantages?
Paul: The two that I found Uncle Jim are:
The police are more likely to use force if they think that they are using less-lethal or non-lethal means.
Police get over confident and think that they are safe when they are not.
I am not sure about another disadvantages but some of what I read said that people were just out to take away first amendment rights to protect themselves and that it would be really bad on companies which manufacture guns. On the other hand, some of the companies which make guns could make these less-lethal weapons.
Me: Wow, Paul, you really did a lot of homework before we got together. I am, as always impressed. What about the primary disadvantage of less-lethal weapons being used more than lethal weapons?
Paul: Well, you and our parents spend a lot of time teaching Sam and me how to not allow others to determine our behavior or our response. Why couldn’t police learn to stay calm and not over react Uncle Jim?
Me: Great point Paul. You think if kids can learn to stay calm and not accept the invitation to be confrontational or violent, we adults can learn too.
Paul: I know old people have a harder time learning Uncle Jim but … (Paul is, as usual, teasing me about being old.)
Me: Point taken. I agree Paul. So one of the initial monetary disadvantages is that we would have to change the training in police academies and, for a time, spend more money providing training to those who were trained differently.
I see that the report cannot be longer than 500 words. Shall we now work on writing the report using the notes we have made?
Paul: We have only 30 minutes before I have to leave. Can we do it in 30 minutes Uncle Jim?
Me: I think so. Let’s try. If we have to we can spend some time tomorrow to finish it.
Written March 12, 2016
As spring approaches it seems that my adopted niece and nephew are busier than ever with school functions and spring sports. They had also just gotten back from a brief vacation trip with their parents who had scheduled it for the spring break. Thus, I was delighted when twelve-year old Paul called to ask if I could help him with a school project. I had already made up the blueberry pancake batter and made the hot chocolate since I knew that Paul had to be at soccer practice in a couple of hours.
I look across to the house he and Sam share with their parents and see him just coming out of the kitchen door.
Me: Good morning Paul. Did you and the family have a good time on your trip?
Paul: We did Uncle Jim. We went camping and it did not rain much. I love to camp, but I hate it when it is raining although I do get more frogs to put in Sam’s sleeping bag when it is raining. She really hates that!
Me: I am sure that she does. How are Sam and your parents?
Paul: They are fine. Mom wants to know if you will make homemade dinner rolls and bring to dinner tonight?
Me: Sure I will. How many people are coming to dinner?
Paul: Me, Sam, mom and dad, our neighbors and Jenny and their children Tommy and Eldon. How many is that Uncle Jim?
Me: I think that is nine with me. Of course, we will have to have an extra one or two for Oscar even though we are not supposed to feed him from the table! Oh, shall I start the pancakes? The hot chocolate is already made. Do you want some?
Paul: Yes, please.
Paul: Oscar and I love your rolls although I am glad I do not have to nibble at your feet to get them and eat them off the floor under the dining room table!
Me: Yes, that is an advantage of being human! Now what is homework assignment Paul?
Paul: Here is the assignment Uncle Jim.
Me: “Research the reason for and against the use of non-lethal weapons by the police in the United States. For this assignment do not include any information or discussion about the use of non-lethal force by military forces.” Okay, what have you found out so far, Paul.
(The pancakes our done. I make a plate for Paul and one for me and then hand Paul the blueberry syrup we had made last year and which I have warmed up.)
Paul: Thanks Uncle Jim.
Me: Back to work. what have you found out so far Paul?
Paul: Well, Uncle Jim there are a lot of non-lethal weapons.
Me: Yes, I did not realize how many there are until I did a little research myself. I guess we better start with the term non-lethal. What do you think it means Paul?
Paul: I knew you would ask Uncle Jim. I looked it up even though I thought I knew. It means death or killing. In this case it means weapons which do not kill, but all the so called non-lethal weapons can sometimes kill can’t they Uncle Jim?
Me: Yes, they can. So what we are really talking about are weapons designed to be non-lethal but which sometimes can kill. So, shall we use the laptop or the kitchen white board?
Paul: Can we use both Uncle Jim?
Me: Sure I will use the white board and you can use the laptop. Okay?
Paul: Great. So the first thing is to write down the assignment.
I write it on the board and Paul types it in the computer.
“Research the reason for and against the use of non-lethal weapons by the police in the United States. For this assignment do not include any information or discussion about the use of non-lethal force by military forces.”
Me: Great. So shall we make a note that what we are really talking about are weapons which are sometime lethal but not designed to be lethal. I read that they are now calling them less-lethal weapons. What are some of these weapons Paul?
Paul: There are a lot of them. These are some of the most common Uncle Jim:
“Light As a Less-Lethal Weapon
The new school of thought is to use light as a less-lethal weapon. The light is used to confuse, disable, and dominate your suspect. Powerful small flashlights that can be carried on your belt and produce 200 lumens or more (along with a built in strobe capability) are now used in room clearing to search out, make contact with, and control a suspect…
Chemical Agents
The most widespread less-lethal weapons are chemical agents dispersed in aerosol form. The three most widely used are CS, OC, or a combination of both. Regardless of what type you use, the effects are about the same; the suspect feels pain, burning, and irritation of exposed mucous membranes and skin. Some agents target the eyes to compromise vision. Others target the suspect's mouth, nose, and throat in order to adversely affect breathing.
Conducted Electrical Weapons
The most recent data I can find estimated that there are more than 11,000 agencies that use Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs). CEWs work by sending electronic pulses throughout the body that interfere with the communication between the brain and the muscles. They overwhelm the normal communication network, causing involuntary muscle contractions and impairment of motor function.
Projectile Weapons
Another long standing group of less-lethal weapons are those that fire some type of blunt force round. The round is designed to cause pain but not penetrate the skin. It transfers and disperses its kinetic energy into its target. The most common rounds are those fired from a shotgun. The projectiles themselves come in a bean-bag form or fire some type of rubberized bullet.
Launchable Pepper Projectiles
Instead of shooting paint balls, they shoot a type of OC pepper-spray pellet instead. Such projectiles contain pepper powder in hard frangible spheres that have a wide operating temperature range and can be deployed with specialized launchers...”
Policemag.com
Me: That is a great list and similar to the overview of the lists that I found. I found one document which claimed to have 54 pages covering some of the options.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages Paul?
Paul: Uncle Jim, the obvious advantage is that these less-lethal weapons do not usually cause death.
Me: Why is that an advantage Paul?
Paul: Well, in our house, as you know, we do not believe in killing. We believe that if police kill less often it is good modeling for the rest of the community.
Me: Great point Paul. Are there any other advantages?
Paul: Just the other day the police shot some kid who had an air gun. They said they could not tell that it was an air gun. If they had used a less-lethal weapon the kid probably would still be alive.
Me: Great. How shall we list that advantage? How about mistakes are not as likely to be tragic?
Paul: Sounds good Uncle Jim. Can you think of another advantages Uncle Jim.
Me: The person has another chance to change his or her life and the law enforcement person does not feel so bad, especially if they make a mistake and shot a child. What else Paul? Do you think it is less expensive to use less-lethal weapons?
Paul: Do you mean that the weapons are cheaper Uncle Jim?
Me: No, I am not sure that is always the case. What are some of the costs involved in not killing someone or badly injuring them? Let’s list them:
Possibly lower medical costs. It is expensive to treat fatal or near fatal injuries.
Paul: I am always reading stories of someone who starts off bad and then becomes a very famous person who owns a business or something.
Possibly later making money and paying taxes or doing something really important.
Me: Great. How about?
Less money on police to handle demonstrations and riots following the killing or near killing by police?
Paul: That is great Uncle Jim. How about?
Less money on law suits after a killing but more money on jail and court trials.
Me: That is accurate Paul. What are some of the other disadvantages?
Paul: The two that I found Uncle Jim are:
The police are more likely to use force if they think that they are using less-lethal or non-lethal means.
Police get over confident and think that they are safe when they are not.
I am not sure about another disadvantages but some of what I read said that people were just out to take away first amendment rights to protect themselves and that it would be really bad on companies which manufacture guns. On the other hand, some of the companies which make guns could make these less-lethal weapons.
Me: Wow, Paul, you really did a lot of homework before we got together. I am, as always impressed. What about the primary disadvantage of less-lethal weapons being used more than lethal weapons?
Paul: Well, you and our parents spend a lot of time teaching Sam and me how to not allow others to determine our behavior or our response. Why couldn’t police learn to stay calm and not over react Uncle Jim?
Me: Great point Paul. You think if kids can learn to stay calm and not accept the invitation to be confrontational or violent, we adults can learn too.
Paul: I know old people have a harder time learning Uncle Jim but … (Paul is, as usual, teasing me about being old.)
Me: Point taken. I agree Paul. So one of the initial monetary disadvantages is that we would have to change the training in police academies and, for a time, spend more money providing training to those who were trained differently.
I see that the report cannot be longer than 500 words. Shall we now work on writing the report using the notes we have made?
Paul: We have only 30 minutes before I have to leave. Can we do it in 30 minutes Uncle Jim?
Me: I think so. Let’s try. If we have to we can spend some time tomorrow to finish it.
Written March 12, 2016
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