They May Be Aiming at You

Photo by ev on Unsplash

So-called "non-lethal" weapons are really just "less lethal", and law enforcement terminology now acknowledges that.

Rubber bullets aren't bouncy rubber. They are metal with a rubber coating, intended to be very painful and knock someone down. They can blind you permanently, give you a concussion, damage major organs, cause limb injury requiring amputation, and may cause death.

"Bean bag" bullets do not use the bean bags you're familiar with. Instead of beans or plastic, the bags are filled with metal balls! They are supposed to be aimed low, to hit the legs or feet, but cops usually aim for the torso or head. These will always knock you down, and can cause very severe injuries, leading to permanent disability or death.

Tear gas is deployed in grenades or cannisters that emit the gas as a spray or mist. If you are hit by the cannister, it can cause serious injury or death. The gas itself is extremely irritating to mucous membranes. It causes coughing, difficulty breathing, throat pain, eye pain, and temporary blindness. It may trigger asthma attacks. In some cases, it can cause permanent damage, including death. Tear gas is considered a chemical weapon and is outlawed in international warfare, yet police in the U.S. are allowed to use it on civilians.

All of these weapons are used to injure, maim, and "accidentally" kill unarmed citizens. If you are struck by any of these projectiles, get medical help as soon as possible, even if you think your injury isn't serious. You can have a concussion or internal injuries that aren't immediately obvious.

We need laws that restrict the use of these weapons against unarmed persons, and we need the ability to hold police accountable when these weapons are abused -- such as deliberately aiming for the head, shooting people in the back, firing on children or disabled persons, attacking pregnant women and elderly folks, etc.