There are several types of non-lethal weapons, with some even illegal for civilian use. Let’s see them all, but first, what are non-lethal weapons?
What are Non-lethal Weapons?
According to the US Department of Defense, non-lethal weapons are weapons, devices & munitions specifically built & primarily used to incapacitate targets immediately while minimizing or completely avoiding (if possible) fatalities, injuries & destruction of properties in the environment. The effects of any weapon tagged “nonlethal” are supposed to be reversible.
In simpler words, these are devices employed to cause pain to a target but without permanent injuries or casualties. Some prefer to call it a non-deadly weapon, as all it does is inflict temporary pain to take control.
There are numerous types of these weapons, each with certain purposes. Some of these weapons require expert training before using; some need specific precautions & others may be used freely without much ado. Anyway, the keynote is this: so long as fatal damage isn’t caused, it can rightly be called non-lethal.
Purposes of Non-lethal Weapons
Non-deadly weapons are now employed for a wide variety of uses. For law enforcement officers, they are used for peacekeeping, crowd regulation & riots. For civilians, meanwhile, the ideal purpose is self-defense.
Simply put, the acceptable uses of non-lethal weapons include, but are not restricted to:
- Self-defense (against animal or human assailants);
- Target incapacitation for a temporary term;
- Crowd regulation during riots;
- Combat (actual or training)
- Safety & precaution (for preppers)
Effects of Non-lethal Weapons
The effects of non-lethal weapons on targets depend on the type of weapon used. Basic effects anyway are:
- Infliction of pain & blunt trauma — batons
- Temporary impairment of visual sense — tear gas
- Temporary seizing of auditory sense — flashbang
- Induction of electrophysiological effects — tasers
- Implementation of pharmaceutical effects — tranquilizers
6 Types of Non-lethal Weapons
Having understood the definition, uses & effects of non-lethal weapons, it is time to find out the various types available to know which is ideal for you: needs-, ability- & legal-wise.
Ammunition
Ammunition, also called non-lethal rounds, are firearms built to knock out targets or cause temporary (severe or light) pains. Ammunition is used by guns and is designed to depend on blunt force & kinetic force to cause pain, disable & take control.
There are several examples of non-lethal ammunition, and the popular ones include:
Rubber/plastic/wax bullets, which are aimed at the lower abdomen or legs, and will majorly cause bruises & lacerations, but nothing else. These bullets can be fatal if shot at fragile areas like the hard, neck, or chest.
Bean Bag rounds: also a class of ammunition, but much more painful than the bullet types mentioned above. They are only advisable when things are extreme & there are professionals to handle the guns.
Explosives
Hard to see how explosives can be non-lethal, but there are several types that do not lead to fatalities. They are popular weapons among legal forces when having combat. Examples of such explosives are stun grenades, flashbang, specific sting grenades & grenades containing chemical irritants.
The military, police officers & correctional officers use these weapons when necessary to incapacitate targets. Like the beanbag rounds, only professionals can handle & use non-lethal explosives to avoid extreme results.
Sting ball grenades, also called blunt trauma grenades, are deployed with reasonable force & speed enough to disable a target but not do more than that. The stun grenades emit powerful flashes of light to disable sight while also letting out a loud bang enough to seize hearing for a while. That’s why it’s also called flashbang.
As you should expect, these explosives are not available to the public. Only the military & law enforcement are permitted to use them.
Gases & Sprays
Gases & sprays are also commonly used to disperse a crowd, although there are other uses. Some examples of gases & sprays are:
Water Cannons: most used to regulate huge crowds like rioters. Water cannons for crowd control are typically used without extreme pressure so as not to cause severe damage. This is always a very safe & highly effective way of controlling a crowd.
Pepper Spray: this is arguably the most used handheld weapon used by women for self-defense. Pepper spray is made from an irritant obtained from cayenne pepper called oleoresin capsicum. When spritzed to the face, the victim feels an intense burning sensation in their eyes, such that they can’t open them. Pepper sprays can burn the nose, mouth & throat and cause temporary breathing discomfort.
Other examples are tear gas, malodorants, psychochemical drugs & sleeping gas.
Riot Guns
A riot gun, also called the non-lethal launcher, is usually used in the absence of non-lethal ammunition. This gun is primarily used to disperse rioting crowds, although it is also used for military & police training. This firearm is available as a shotgun, revolver, submachine & grenade launcher. A basic riot gun has a short barrel, measuring just 16–18 inches.
Although riot guns are considered non-deadly, they can be very threatening to life, particularly when fired at close range. Surprisingly, a riot gun is available to civilians, so you can add it to your doomsday backpack. Ensure to check with local laws to be sure you’re allowed to own one in your locality.
Electroshock Weapons
Also widely employed by law enforcement, these weapons inflict a safe amount of electric shock on the target. Usually, the effect is enough to disrupt muscle functions & weaken a person. This weapon is safe from use but only when moderately used. A target should be shot with this for not more than 15 seconds. That’s by the way. People with ventricular arrhythmia may suffer a cardiac arrest & die if they are shot with weapons like this.
Electroshock weapons you can buy as a civilian include Taser, stun belts, stun shields, stun guns & electric shock pods.
Concluding The Types of Non-lethal Weapons
There are other types of non-lethal weapons, but they are hardly used. An example is the directed energy weapon that releases a unique form of energy to render a person & even machines immobile. Before buying your non-lethal weapon, go through your locality’s firearm laws to ensure you make a legal choice. Ensure you get one or two of these weapons anyway.