While less lethal weapons (LLW) are safer than conventional weapons, they still posses side effects. These effects could be as minor as pin pricks or as fatal as a traditional weapon. Less lethal weapons can cause contusions, abrasions, broken ribs, loss of eyes, organ damage, ruptured heart, liver, and kidneys, and even death. In 2000, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission, 21,840 injuries were reported from the use of LLW. Of those injuries, 12% were ocular, 24 involved head and neck, 63% involved limbs, and 1% involved other areas. Tragic deaths have occurred from LLW, such as in the case of Victoria Snelgrove, who in 2006 was killed by a pepper spray pellet that was fired into a crowd of people near Fenway Park by a Boston Police Officer.
Law enforcement is constantly looking for new innovation to improve its line of duty. Whether it is putting more officers on the street, zero tolerance policies or new police programs (C.O.P & P.O.P). We must understand that new innovations always come with a few bugs. In the case of less lethal weapons, injuries are its bug, and it posses an inevitable side effect of the danger.
We must remember that no weapon is a safe weapon. And even though the title is less than lethal, essentially it means, “intended not to kill.”
Victoria Snelgrove Story
Victoria Snelgrove
Medical Aspects of Less-Lethal Munitions
About Me
- M. Wolf
- Im a 24 year old senior at California State University California, graduating with a B.S. in criminal justice.
2 comments:
Yes, that is true that we have to find some other method to minimize certain situations. However, in the Victoria case, I think they probably did everything they could to keep the crowd under control. You have good ideas, especially with "safe weapon is no weapon," but what do you think will happen if there is no weapon(s) at all?
Hello. Police officers have to be more careful when approaching riots or simply rallies. In Victoria's case, it seems like it was an accident that caused a innocent life. At the same police officers are simply doing there job but should always be cautious with their actions. Now imagine a world were police officers had no weapons what's so ever. Officers would simply not have the respect they have in today's society. Overall good post.
Post a Comment