Why not have the Cops have non lethal bullets?

Question

I was at the gun shop and saw this video for a "bean bag" round that was fired out of a shotgun. It knocks a person flat. I think that would be a good idea. A single shot shotgun only costs a hundred dollars, and you could flatten a disruptive person with it. Also, if you used a single barrel break open shotgun to fire the non lethal round, (perhaps you could have a bright orange stock) you could easily tell the difference between it, and the pump action shotgun that has lethal buckshot.

The cops WOULD STILL HAVE THEIR PISTOLS AND SHOTGUNS WITH REGULAR BUCKSHOT, but for about $200 a car, you could have another tool to knock down people without killing them. Also, because this weapon is like getting hit with a sledgehammer, some people who have been hit with it before, might choose to comply rather than get knocked flat. I think expanding nonlethal weapons that actually work is a good thing, not a bad thing. And having this would not preclude using real guns where necessary.

Gee JD your avatar shows you as about 18, yet based on your experience, you must be 50. I guess you have issues.

The objections are bogus. It's like saying if you give a carpenter another saw or hammer it will make it impossible for him to do his job.

Answer 1

Actually, for an officer that has a shotgun in car to begin with, it's only the cost of the less-than-lethal munitions of choice. There's rubber slugs, rubber shot, multiple beanbag configurations, and Lightfield came out with miniature 'Koosh' toy style projectiles. The only drawback is that these projectiles have to deliver a great deal of force without penetrating, or they may become lethal. A single type of projectile is usually only rated for a certain range of ranges. Some beanbags are lethal at less than 10m, while some other types of shells are ineffective below 7m.

Many police departments do, but in some places they're restricted from less-than-lethal force, due to the fact that tasers and beanbags are not completely non-lethal. There have been a handful of incidents where someone dies or is seriously injured after being incapacitated. In places like these, police have fewer options, so, unfortunately, when physical force is no longer enough, they have to move to the threat of lethal force. I'm fairly certain that more civilians, as well as police, have died from not having less-than-lethal munitions available than those that have died having it there.

Also: JD does, in fact, have issues. After being an armorer for Benelli and Beretta, and being familiar with the 1201FP, he said that no parts whatsoever would interchange. So I replaced the stock, rebuilt the trigger group, and got a set of XM1014 ghost ring sights for it. I see a lot of bad answers on his other questions, too. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of thumbs down for this, since he has such a nice list of sources, and nobody would possibly lie over the internet.

Answer 2

Jack, virtually all of the larger (and many smaller) departments have bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, etc. Just for your information, the bean bag shotgun round can be fired from any pump action, and some semi auto, shotguns.

These special purpose rounds get used quite a bit. However, they are not ideal for every situation. I have personally watched a knife wielding, drug crazed, subject take over a dozen hits with bean bag rounds. Although the impact would make him stagger, he never dropped. Being hit in the pelvis with a .40 cal. bullet finally dropped him. Even then we had to wait until he passed out to get the knife away from him, and get him to a hospital. He did survive, limps a bit now. . .

There are times when non lethal simply will not work. If the offender is armed and shooting real bullets at you; it is foolish to fire back with a rubber bullet.

The modern police officer carries several "non lethal" items and only one lethal weapon.

Answer 3

When I was in the service, we were trained to use the "minimum force necessary to ensure compliance". Of course, that also means the minimum force necessary to keep from getting injured, and to keep your boarding party from getting injured.

Maybe you don't realize this, but by the time the situation has escalated to the point where weapons must be used, the officer does not have time to return to his vehicle to retrieve a different firearm. That's why we're trained to be able to make non-lethal shots with real live ammo.

Answer 4

police only use lethal force when needed in a riot situation you can just start shooting people with live rounds. also if a cop kills someone he or she needs good reason. also you want to be as far away from a person when you want to neutralize then that is why this close range tool will not work. also when you are out in the field and a situation arises when non-lethal force is needed you cant say "wait let me get out this contraption so i could knock you down" ;you want to do it quickly and effectively.

Answer 5

Another point is that when an assailant has: a real gun, with real bullets, and is not afraid of taking my life why would I want to possible knock that person down where he could still do me grave danger.

Also, officers have strict guide lines as to when they are authorized to used deadly force. Without suck guide lines as to when a weapon can be used. More people would be shot with the bean bag. As well as, more officers would also be injured due to their lack of use of deadly force.

Answer 6

I was a cop for a while & i don't believe that cops need to fire non lethal bullets.
If a cop is required to fire his weapon, he should try to take the person out.
if the intent of the officer, is to not shoot to kill, if a weapon is required, then WHY carry a weapon at all.

Answer 7

You obviously have no law enforcement background to even suggest such a thing.The Police are under-gunned as it is and you would make a tough position even tougher. 26 years on the "Job" have taught me you don't bring a knife to a gun fight.You level the "playing field" with weapons you are highly trained with, and the knowledge and experience to know when to use lethal force and when not to....Think about it..How do you think criminals would react knowing the Police have a limited arsenal of non-lethal weapons that they would use before the lethal force was used on them, if confronted....I don't think so...Besides, would YOU want to confront an armed crazed meth addict that is pointing a real gun at you and shoot him with a "bean bag". Or better still ask the Perp not to shoot you for about 20 seconds while you decide lethal or non-lethal response. S.W.A.T teams and QRT teams nationawide aready have these non-lethal weapons and bean bag shells you are describing and have had them for years. They were never designed to be used by regular patrol officers......
Might as well arm the Police with Airsoft weapons with Orange Barrel Tips........
NOTE* Orange Stocks are used in Police academy training for recruits and are "Dummy Firearms".........

*YES, I am over 50 and I am obviously not one with "issues"... I live in the REAL world and have REAL experience.....I don't believe in Santa Claus either.......

Answer 8

Because you do NOT confront lethal force with non-lethal means, unless you have a death wish.A police office is NOT suppose to draw his weapon unless he is justified to use lethal force. I know than many of them play fast and loose with this law, but they are doing it at their own perils.

Answer 9

They already have non-lethal weapons that are used during certain incidents and circumstances.*

Answer 10

They do use those types of things. It is just that by the time you would need one of those, you would have had to already have it or it would be too far away to be of easy access.