Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uiucdcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!renner From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Lethal force used by police Message-ID: <36200168@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 00:12:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.36200168 Posted: Mon Dec 10 00:12:00 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 4-Dec-84 19:24:44 EST References: <494@uwmacc.UUCP> Lines: 21 Nf-ID: #R:uwmacc:-49400:uiucdcs:36200168:000:846 Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner Dec 2 23:12:00 1984 Well, it certainly *sounds* nice. I mean, who could be against non-lethal weapons for the police. The problem (as usual) is in the implementation. The same tranquilizer gun has got to stop: a) little 80-pound Jimmy, wearing a short-sleeve shirt and pounding on someone else with a tire iron, and... b) a 280-pound man, freaked out on angel dust, wearing a heavy overcoat and three thick sweaters. Furthermore, it has got to stop them *right now*. Because the bad guys aren't going to switch to these neat non-lethal weapons. And the bad guy can do a lot of damage with his 12-gauge shotgun in the 15 seconds it takes for the dope to hit him. But by all means, go ahead and look for something that would work. Just don't try to take guns away until you already have a replacement. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner