As a Law Enforcement Officer would you use this item?

Question

I am asking this question again in different text people took it the wrong way. If you are a law enforcement officer and the technology was available that a side arm that fires faster and has more ammo than a pistol and just as reliable; in this case it would shoot faster if using lasers. It only paralyzes or knocks out a suspect. It has no lethal effects, or side effects. and doesn't cause any kind of permanent damage. The way to load it is a simple battery or plugging it into a wall to charge. Allowing to ease the burden of the common fear of taking someones life. Would you use it or prefer a regular pistol?

This question is excluding civilian or criminals, as if it was only available to law enforcement.

All of you who keep bringing up the tazer, please reread the ?.

The idea is this would not shoot a projectile that will stick to you and it has the same distance as a pistol. A tazer fires a projectile the sticks to you and some cases has side effects and does not provide the same firing distance as a pistol

Answer 1

Unless a weapon like that is perfected, it wouldn't work, plus it would be either deadly, or put the Officer in jeopardy.
Your idea only worked on Star Trek. You have to compensate for weight, physical, and mental condition, and age.

Answer 2

This is a great question that has provoked thoughts for me. I can't honestly answer either way. The fact that it would be an electrical apparatus would concern me that it may not function properly when it was needed, but then again, you risk the same thing when you have a malfunction with a pistol. Then again, you have the Taser that affects people different ways than others. Would this weapon be a "sure thing"? As far as the burden of the fear of taking someone's life,as a L.E.O., I can't look at it that way. My view on lethal force has always been (& will continue to be), "Is it going to be them or ME?"

Answer 3

Not unless it could be shown and tested to be as reliable as a firearm. With electronics, you're at the mercy of stuff you can't see (ie, electrons). Would you stake your life on something that was not 100% proven?

This sounds like an alternative to a taser, as it has the range but not the lethality. Not an alternative to a baton or mace/pepper spray.

While I would not want to take someone's life, I value my life over his - I'm going to go home to my wife at the end of my shift.

Calif Deputy

Answer 4

The problem withj your theoretical weapon is that it would most probably fail to penetrate :

walls, glass, heavy clothing, metal doors and many other obstacles found in the law enforcement field.

My point is that it Must go through those objects to make contact with the bad guy asa they often are in a position of cover or concelament when fired on; and if it can go through them, it will most probably be leathal.

Answer 5

As with a firearm(misfire) there could be failure. You state it is battery operated and that can be an issue for me. Over all I do think that because its non lethal and it just stops the threat and not terminate the threat it saves time and money and lives. Time meaning; once you shoot your firearm you are disarmed and investigation takes place, the money if you are put on administrative leave without pay and a life the subject. I favor the laser over all.

Answer 6

If an option to substitute for lethal force was available, and since a cop can't be judge and jury on the street, there is every reason to implement this.

To serve and protect, ...not to judge and protect some.

Answer 7

I was actually in LE back when revolvers were the only way to go because the semi automatics were not considered 'trustworthy." I was one of the first to carry a Sig Sauer as I finally found enough faith in them and that they'd perform when they had too. That is relevent to your question in that I'd use such a weapon if I had the same faith in it as I did my Sig. In otherwords I'd have to know for absolute certain it would eliminate the threat I faced. Otherwise I'd stick with the Sig.

Answer 8

Sounds too good to be true. Yu'll be shooting energy into someone's body. Like a taser, there would be instances of people dying. Plus, you can't guarantee there's no side effects. If you carry it in a holster, its near your nutbag and who knows what damage it would cause there.

Answer 9

i would use what you are suggesting only because i think criminals should be punished for their crimes and not get the easy way out by getting shot. Now if a criminal had a weapon that could kill me in their hands i probably would wish I had something a little more potent

Answer 10

Sounds like a good idea to me, the key though is it would have to be very efficient because if you are in a deadly force situation you must be totally assured the situation is defused and you are completely safe!