TASERS, Pepper Spray, and Nonlethal Weapons Essay ⋆ Criminal Justice Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

Police officers in the United States carry handguns. The most typical police handguns are 9 millimeter, .40 caliber, and .45 caliber, which can carry as many as 17 rounds of ammunition. When a police officer shoots a suspect, that suspect is likely to die or to be gravely injured. Handguns, therefore, are deadly weapons. There are many situations in which force, but not deadly force, is called for. Imagine a suspect standing 15 feet from an officer with a knife threatening to kill himself. An officer in this situation might be justified in shooting the suspect, but if there were another option available such as a TASER, the officer might want to use that instead. TASERS, pepper spray, and beanbag shotguns have been dubbed “nonlethal weapons.” The problem with this designation is that these nonlethal weapons have actually killed on occasion. A better term for these weapons is “less-than-lethal.”

TASERS

The TASER was invented in the mid-1970s by Jack Cover. TASERS were developed to provide a way to incapacitate persons without killing them. Cover named his weapon after a favorite character of his. The word TASER is actually an acronym for Thomas A. Smith’s electric rifle. TASERS have two prongs that are propelled by a nitrogen cartridge into a target’s clothes. Barbs at the end of the wire keep the target from pulling off the prongs. Some TASER devices deliver 50,000 volts. For civilians the range of the TASER is limited to 15 feet, but for law enforcement the TASER can be effective at 35 feet. The TASER incapacitates its target by forcing muscle contractions. This process does not incapacitate through pain. No matter how tough the target is, he or she will not be able to resist the TASER’s impact by being tough and ignoring the pain.

TASERS can also be used in drive-stun mode. In drive-stun mode the TASER user touches the TASER against the skin of a target. Unlike the situation in which the prongs are fired, in this mode the target’s compliance is gained through pain. This means that if the targets are sufficiently tough, they may be able to ignore the pain and continue their attack. Also, in order to use the TASER in drive-stun mode the user must be very close to the target. For both of these reasons, drive-stun mode can be riskier to the TASER user than the traditional method of firing the prongs. TASERS can also be equipped with a sight and with a camera. The latter is important in documenting the situation. This can be important not just for law enforcement agents but also for correctional officers, as TASERS are being used in jails and prisons.

TASER International, Inc., an American manufacturer of these electroshock devices, claims that TASERS have saved 75,000 lives. Amnesty International estimated that by 2000 TASERS had killed approximately 150 people. Those who have been killed by TASERS have also been said to have died through excited delirium, a cause which has been debated; some even said that excited delirium has been used as a way to excuse law enforcement agents when they kill with TASERS. Further confusing the situation is the fact that many people who die after being shot with a TASER do not die instantaneously but a few hours later. Other people have been concerned that the TASER in traditional mode or drive-stun mode can simply be used as a torture device.

Pepper Spray and Chemical Agents

Chemical agents are irritants that affect the eyes, nose, and skin and, therefore, disable or seriously impair the recipient’s ability to function. Chemical agents have been used as less-than-lethal weapons throughout history. In 178 C.E., China used lime dust to create an early form of tear gas during a peasant revolt. Ancient Chinese writings provide hundreds of recipes for creating dangerous chemical weapons with the ability to seriously injure or even kill enemies. Caribbean and Brazilian Indians used the earliest form of pepper spray to ward off Spanish conquistadors in the 16th and 17th centuries. Commonly, these chemical agents were mostly used as military strategies rather than criminal deterrents. According to the 2003 Bureau of Justice Statistics Law Enforcement and Management Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey, 98 percent of all local police departments today authorize their patrol officers to carry pepper spray.

Before the development of pepper spray, most law enforcement agencies relied on tear gas grenades, but this method was particularly problematic because of a tendency to ignite fire. Most pepper sprays are made from oleoresin capsicum oil found in hot peppers. The strength of a particular pepper spray is related to the strength of the pepper from which the spray derives and is proportionate to the recovery time of the affected area on one’s body.

Although it was thought to be a “magic bullet” in the 1990s, studies show that pepper spray is one of the least effective less-than-lethal weapons in stopping resistance. Most recipients of pepper spray do not need to seek medical treatment and can withstand the pain caused by the spray. Pepper spray has the ability to reach only short distances, less than eight feet—another weakness of its use as a less-than-lethal weapon. There is also a greater chance of cross-contamination. A study conducted by Geoffrey P. Alpert, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina, and funded by the National Institute of Justice, found that officer injury increased by 21 percent with pepper spray use.

A major benefit of pepper spray use is suspect injury reduction. According to current medical research, death or serious injury by use of pepper spray is rare. Police departments favor pepper spray as a method against resistance because it is relatively safe. The inability of most chemical agents to disperse at long distances has led to the development of compressed air weapons. These weapons, similar to paintball guns, release projectiles loaded with chemical agents. Two common air compressor launchers are the FN303 and the Pepperball.

Beanbag Shotguns

Beanbag rounds are nylon cloth squares. They are the approximate size of a tea bag and are filled with an ounce of lead bird shot. Beanbag munitions should not be fired at targets that are less than 10 feet away, as this could cause serious injury to any recipients or the disperser. Studies have shown that barrels with different lengths show relatively the same accuracy in distances between 10 and 50 feet. This is important because law enforcement officers are often unable to carry long-barrel shotguns in close quarters. However, if targets are engaged between 10 and 50 feet, officers should be able to use smaller guns without affecting the accuracy of deployment.

Beanbag projectiles, kinetic weapons, work well at long distances (over 21 feet) but transfer too much energy at close range. Because it is difficult to judge an accurate level of energy that will restrain but not seriously injure the suspect, beanbag projectiles have caused many serious injuries and deaths. The 12-guage launcher is the most common bean weapon. These 12-guage munitions must be fired from a pump actions shotgun. Barrels of different lengths can be placed on these shotguns. It is commonly noted that a longer barrel will be more accurate than a shorter barrel.

Conclusion

Nonlethal weapons are better dubbed less-than-lethal weapons because they can kill even though that is not their intended purpose. Less-than-lethal weapons exist to provide law enforcement officers the ability to deliver force to incapacitate persons without taking their lives. TASERS can be used by law enforcement officers at an effective distance of up to 35 feet. Incapacitation is based on involuntary responses and not pain. Pepper spray is less effective, as it has to be delivered at a closer range and can be resisted by a “tough” target. Finally, beanbag shotguns deploy a round that, although effective, can be deadly, particularly when hitting a target at 10 feet or less. Less-than-lethal weapons seem to range in usefulness based on the effective distance at which they can be used and if they incapacitate a person through involuntary responses or through pain. There is a concern that these weapons could be used for torture rather than legitimate incapacitation. The TASER’s ability to be mounted on a camera is one positive step in documenting an encounter with a less-than-lethal weapon.

Bibliography:

Bullman, Philip. “Police Use of Force: The Impact of Less-Lethal Weapons.” National Institute of Justice Journal (Winter 2010). http://www.nij.gov/nij/journals/267/use-of-force.htm (Accessed October 2013).
Mesloh, Charlie, et. al. “Less Lethal Weapons for Law Enforcement: A Performance-Based Analysis.” Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 2008. http://www2.cohpa.ucf.edu/crim.jus/documents (Accessed October 2013)

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