Essay Example on Law Enforcement: Fighting Crime with Lethal & Nonlethal Weapons

Introduction

In terms of fighting crime, multiple options are availed to law enforcement as a means through which they can fight and eradicate crime. The existence of both lethal and nonlethal weapons offers law enforcers a considerable range of ideas on which they can use to mitigate an ongoing crime or eliminate threats. As such, multiple considerations are in place to ensure that the significant needs of individuals and law enforcement agencies get met, and crime is mitigated.

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Less-than-lethal Weapons used

Law enforcement agencies and officials use a wide range of weapons at their disposal to eradicate different forms of threats they may face. Such efforts involve the use of lethal and nonlethal weapons as restrictive measures to imposing law and mitigating common concerns on crimes (Ba & Grogger, 2018). The use of less than lethal or nonlethal weapons involves the application of weapons that do not cause considerable damages such as death or fatalities but help in dissolving crimes and apprehension of offenders. The most widely used nonlethal weapons involve the application of tasers, batons, and pepper sprays. A taser is a form of an electronic control weapon that is less lethal and is used by law enforcers and civilians alike to save a life (Ba & Grogger, 2018). Tasers are used to administer electric shockwaves on an imposing threat. It provides for accountability as it designed to penetrate thick clothing, has time and date logs that record the time of use while tracking the temperature and strength of each shockwave administered. New models of batons are lighter and have a push-button appeal in which a law enforcer can use to increase its size. It has steel bearings and can cause multiple injuries to a target based on the hand maneuver techniques designed on it. It can also be used as an extrication tool in that it can be used to break windows of cars and houses to help save a life. Pepper sprays get commonly used for mitigating crowd control and reducing the sight of an assailant (Tidwell & Wills, 2019). It imposes pain and incapacitation of sight and wears off later. It is ideal for both public use and law enforcement agencies.

Non-lethal Weapon under Development

New technological developments imposed for non-lethal use involve the use of carbon nanotube thermophone. It belongs to the traditional loudspeaker family but is lighter in weight and has tremendous improvements on heat currents imposition. It is made of carbon and can get implanted on tiny drones that can administer considerable power screams derailing an enemy’s approach.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Less than Lethal Weapons

Their advantages involve ready availability and affordable pricing. Such implements make it easier to access them. They offer essential multipurpose functions, thereby providing uses with additional features for easy use. Less training is required when using less than lethal weapons with fewer restrictions imposition. Such advancements enable for easy workability of the weapons and can be used for different actions (King, Finnin, & Kramer, 2018). They are also likely to be more used compared to non-lethal weapons as their effects are less compared to lethal weaponry. Considerable disadvantages involve inappropriate use of the weapons when the situation does not mandate it and can also get used by people having ulterior motives.

Such efforts can lead to misuse and imposed unwarranted accidents. People using non-lethal weapons are less likely to be careful of such weapons compared to lethal ones like guns. Such limited restrictions can predispose them to perform unsanctioned activities against others. The use of non-lethal weapons can lead to considerable damages if no appropriate personal control is imposed on their use (King, Finnin, & Kramer, 2018). It can lead to multiple injuries that can affect the lives and livelihood of others in society.

Concerns on Inappropriate Use of Torture

Inappropriate use of torture by law enforcers as a non-lethal weapon can lead to considerable damage in that the torture victim can, at times, die due to unethical practices used. It can result to other health complications on victims who may have an underlying medical condition before detainment for torture (King, Finnin, & Kramer, 2018). Inappropriate use of weapons and skills unnecessarily in torture rooms can impose that such agencies care less about human rights. People with ulterior motives can also use it as a means through which they perform self-desires on unsuspecting victims.

Force Policy Suggestions on Less than Lethal Weapons Use

My view is that the use of less than lethal weapons is appropriate as the weapons in question help not only to mitigate crime but can also be used for personal security. The less than lethal weapons provide users and law agencies with multiple outlets on which they can use to solve a given problem without escalating the issue (King, Finnin, & Kramer, 2018). Furthermore, the existence of less than lethal weapons makes it easier for law agencies to come up with resolutions and agencies on which they can better impose collective judgment.

Conclusion

In summary, the use of less than lethal weapons is a significant initiative when combating crimes. Considerable efforts and jurisdictions should be imposed on their usage to deter against ulterior motive usage. Ideal settings need to get imposed with collective training being offered on such implements and their impact.

References

Ba, B., & Grogger, J. (2018). The Introduction of Tasers and Police Use of Force: Evidence from the Chicago Police Department (No. w24202). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://www.nber.org/papers/w24202.pdf

King, A. L., Finnin, M. S., & Kramer, C. M. (2018). Significance Of Skull Fractures and Traumatic Brain Injuries Potentially Caused By Blunt Impact Non-Lethal Weapons (No. IDA-D-9220). Institute for Defense Analyses Alexandria United States.

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/1067082.pdfTidwell, R. D., & Wills, B. K. (2019). Tear Gas (Pepper Spray) Toxicity. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544263/