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Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

popularmechanics.com

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Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#11

Post by pavel_lishin »

epochwolf wrote: post #3

Really Short Summary: A new non-letahl weapon automatically adjusts the projectile's muzzle velocity to match the range of the target so it can safely deliver the same impact at long and short ranges. (Current nonlethal weapons are only effective at a very narrow range. A non-lethal gun ranged for 50m shots will kill at 5m and ineffective much beyond 50m.) Uses methylacetylene propadiene gas as propellent which is a…

> This will help reduce the danger of using nonlethal weapons.

Alternatively, it'll teach people to over-rely on these things, much like some police departments have become overly reliant on tasers, with with bad consequences.

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#13

Post by epochwolf »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #11
epochwolf wrote: post #3

Really Short Summary: A new non-letahl weapon automatically adjusts the projectile's muzzle velocity to match the range of the target so it can safely deliver the same impact at long and short ranges. (Current nonlethal weapons are only effective at a very narrow range. A non-lethal gun ranged for 50m shots will kill at 5m and ineffective much beyond 50m.) Uses methylacetylene propadiene gas as propellent which is a…

> This will help reduce the danger of using nonlethal weapons. Alternatively, it'll teach people to over-rely on these things, much like some police departments have become overly reliant on tasers, with with bad consequences.

While your comment has some merit, tasers are a completely new class of weapon. The non-lethal rounds that this weapon fires are already a known quantity. The same dangers apply to them that applied before except the weapon will help prevent accidents related to misjudged range. You still need to aim it properly to avoid breaking someone's neck or skull. The fact that even though it's less dangerous than before it's still far more dangerous than a taser is considered to be. This weapon will still kill or seriously injure if used improperly.

The major difference is predicting when a taser will be lethal is difficult. Predicting when a fist size piece of silly putty punching the snot out of someone is much easier. Physical trauma is much better understood than electrical.

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#14

Post by epochwolf »

mikecane wrote: post #10
wmeredith wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can get a lethal weapon with no sound in a silenced .22 firing subsonic ammo. You have to be close or a fantastic shot for it to be lethal. (This is basically a hitman's gun. Think shooting someone in the back of the head at point blank range.) The only noise is the clink of the hammer going down and the slap of the bullet hitting the target. It's hard to get a silencer legally, though. (You can't even make one o…

Oh, not looking for lethality. I think there could be a market for a distracting weapon.

Distracting weapon? Have you looked at sound or light based weapons?

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#15

Post by gojomo »

epochwolf wrote: post #13
pavel_lishin wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This will help reduce the danger of using nonlethal weapons. Alternatively, it'll teach people to over-rely on these things, much like some police departments have become overly reliant on tasers, with with bad consequences.

While your comment has some merit, tasers are a completely new class of weapon. The non-lethal rounds that this weapon fires are already a known quantity. The same dangers apply to them that applied before except the weapon will help prevent accidents related to misjudged range. You still need to aim it properly to avoid breaking someone's neck or skull. The fact that even though it's less dangerous than before it's…

Still, if this innovation makes lethality accidents 90% less likely per use, but that newfound confidence makes usage 20X more frequent, net fatalities could go up.

It may be good to have new options, but there's still danger during the adjustment period.

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#17

Post by epochwolf »

gojomo wrote: post #15
epochwolf wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While your comment has some merit, tasers are a completely new class of weapon. The non-lethal rounds that this weapon fires are already a known quantity. The same dangers apply to them that applied before except the weapon will help prevent accidents related to misjudged range. You still need to aim it properly to avoid breaking someone's neck or skull. The fact that even though it's less dangerous than before it's…

Still, if this innovation makes lethality accidents 90% less likely per use, but that newfound confidence makes usage 20X more frequent, net fatalities could go up. It may be good to have new options, but there's still danger during the adjustment period.

The adjustment period is definitely going to dangerous but not nearly on par with tasers. I'm arguing this is a known, predictable issue unlike tasers which should prevent some of the stupidity that's been happening with tasers.

Additionally this type of weapon is less effective at stopping a person at short range than a taser is. (It's also much larger, more like a rifle than a pistol) This is more of a type of weapon that a SWAT team would use than your regular police officers. I hope this would reduce the chances for abuse.

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#18

Post by shpxnvz »

wmeredith wrote: post #8
mikecane wrote: post #6

Wouldn't even this weapon make a sound when used? Like the nail gun he cites? I keep wondering about magnetically-propelled BBs.... no sound.

You can get a lethal weapon with no sound in a silenced .22 firing subsonic ammo. You have to be close or a fantastic shot for it to be lethal. (This is basically a hitman's gun. Think shooting someone in the back of the head at point blank range.) The only noise is the clink of the hammer going down and the slap of the bullet hitting the target. It's hard to get a silencer legally, though. (You can't even make one o…

It's actually relatively easy to legally purchase a sound suppressor in the U.S. All it takes is a few hundred bucks for the can and a $200 transfer fee to the TTB along with background check and fingerprints. Paperwork takes a while, is all.

Re: Tickle Me Elmo Creator Invents Sometimes-Lethal Weapon

#19

Post by mikecane »

epochwolf wrote: post #14
mikecane wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, not looking for lethality. I think there could be a market for a distracting weapon.

Distracting weapon? Have you looked at sound or light based weapons?

Well, distracting in that the pain makes them pause so I can run the hell away. Sometimes that's the best course of action. Inflicting permanent injury is always a last resort.
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