This sounds like a great idea.
A new laser designed to temporarily blind people is going to be trialled by police.
Called the SMU 100 it costs £25,000 and sends out a three-metre "wall of light" that leaves anyone caught in it briefly unable to see.
Designed by a former Royal Marine Commando, it was originally developed for use against pirates in Somalia.
It's makers claim an unnamed police force is set to trial the device which could be used against rioters.
What could go wrong?
Suddenly-blinded angry people freak out in front of twitchy riot cops. Peace and tranquility will certainly follow.
You can usually count on cops to find a way to make “non-lethal” (or “less-than-lethal”) weapons as painful and near-lethal as possible.
i’d be tempted to wear a shirt with a giant barcode on it. see if i could get the machine to ring me up. “BOOOP! $9.28. Please put the item in the bag.”
OMG. The militarisaion of the cops marches on. I fear for my activist sons.
Cops in the US are allowed* to use “non-lethal” weapons as often as they feel like for any and all reasons, even if such weapons cause horrible pain or “temporary” blindness. Since the rich white people who run the country are rarely affected this goes generally unchallenged.