Buzz
Nonlethal weapons are intended to incapacitate, not to kill. As defined by Merriam-Webster, "nonlethal" means "not capable of causing death." These weapons are meant to neutralize threats without taking lives, but still ensuring the danger is eliminated.
Despite their nonlethal designation, some of these weapons can turn deadly. While many are generally effective as intended, specific situations or misuse can cause them to be as fatal as traditional lethal weapons.
10. Active Denial System
The Active Denial System (ADS), often referred to as a "ray gun" or a "pain ray," fires a microwave beam that penetrates the skin and causes it to heat up. Its purpose is to stop an opponent from a distance. When used correctly, it doesn't leave any lasting marks on the target, though those who have experienced it often compare it to standing in front of a "giant hairdryer on maximum heat."
If the ADS is misused, it can result in third-degree burns or even death. In one test, a U.S. airman, acting as a test subject, suffered second-degree burns. Ideally, this shouldn’t have happened, but due to operator error, the ADS was set to full power rather than the 75% setting agreed upon for the test. What could have happened if the ADS had not been shut off immediately when the airman signaled to stop?
Dave Gaubatz, a former U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) agent, provides an answer. The airman would have died from burns. Gaubatz claims that the ADS has the potential to kill. He recalls witnessing a test at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, where the ADS instantly killed both a goat and a 227-kilogram (500 lb) cow. However, some doubt Gaubatz's claims, especially since he previously claimed to have found Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, which turned out to be false.
9. Thunder Generators
Thunder generators emit invisible shock waves that cause intense discomfort to anyone within range. Those who’ve felt it compare the experience to standing before a firing squad. Initially developed by PDT Agro of Israel to scare birds away from farms, it was later adapted for military and anti-riot purposes when someone recognized its potential for crowd control applications.
Thunder generators are designed to be nonlethal, primarily creating fear and confusion. The intended target distance is between 30 and 50 meters (98–164 ft). However, if the target is as close as 10 meters (33 ft), the weapon can cause permanent injury or even death. Even those hiding behind corners or obstacles aren’t immune to the consequences of the weapon. A version of the generator features a curved barrel, allowing shock waves to bypass obstacles.
8. Water Cannon
The water cannon is a common anti-riot tool used by police forces worldwide. It fires highly pressurized water, powerful enough to knock people off their feet. Though marketed as nonlethal, its real impact varies depending on the situation. Some have died from its force, while others have suffered serious injuries. In 2010, 65-year-old Dietrich Wagner was struck in the face by a water cannon during a protest in Stuttgart, Germany. The blast fractured his orbital bones, dislodging his eyeballs and leaving him blind.
In a tragic incident in November 2015, 69-year-old South Korean farmer Baek Nam Ki died after being targeted with a water cannon during a protest in Seoul. A malfunctioning regulator caused the cannon to release water at higher pressure than usual, and officers continued to use it on Baek even after he was unconscious on the ground. Investigations later revealed that the officers lacked sufficient experience with the cannon, with one having operated it for the first time just the night before.
7. Tear Gas
Tear gas is prohibited by the Geneva Convention for use in warfare, but there’s no such restriction when it comes to its use against rioting civilians. Though commonly referred to as a gas, tear gas is actually composed of solid chemical crystals that have been aerosolized. When the chemicals come in contact with moist body parts like the eyes, skin, and nose, they cause irritation. The eyes and nose react by producing tears and mucus to flush out the foreign chemicals, but this only worsens the discomfort.
Tear gas can cause a range of effects depending on the exposure. These can include temporary or permanent blindness, paralysis, miscarriages, stillbirths in women, and even death. In 2013, a tragic incident in Egypt saw 37 people suffocate when a tear gas canister was fired into their vehicle. The canisters themselves are also dangerous, capable of causing severe injuries or fatalities if they strike a person.
6. Sound Cannons
Sound cannons are devices that emit high-intensity sounds capable of causing pain and headaches in humans. In extreme instances, they can even result in permanent hearing loss. One example is the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a brand of sound cannon produced by the LRAD Corporation, which markets it as a “directed-sound communication device,” though it is not officially classified as a weapon.
The LRAD is undoubtedly a weapon, and it can be extremely harmful. Humans generally begin to feel discomfort at sounds around 120 decibels. At 130 decibels, hearing loss becomes possible, and at 140 decibels, people can even lose their sense of balance. This disorientation makes it harder for them to escape the weapon's range, worsening their condition. The LRAD 2000x version can generate sounds up to 162 decibels.
On December 4, 2014, activist Keegan Stephan experienced the powerful effects of the LRAD firsthand when he was targeted by one while photographing a protest in response to the killing of Eric Garner by an NYPD officer. Stephan, who initially went home, found himself unable to sleep due to his ringing ears. It turned out that the officers were not properly trained in using the weapon and had to rely on the manufacturer’s guidelines. Stephan and five other protesters later filed a lawsuit against the NYPD, claiming that the LRAD caused them permanent hearing damage.
5. Tasers
Research by Amnesty International has revealed a shocking statistic: U.S. law enforcement agencies have used Tasers to kill at least 500 people since 2001. This is alarming considering that Tasers are supposed to be nonlethal weapons. Amnesty also found that these devices have been used recklessly, with 90 percent of the victims being unarmed. Some of these fatalities even occurred in jails.
One tragic case involved Allen Kephart, who was Tased to death in San Bernardino County, California, in 2011 over a traffic violation. He was shocked 16 times by three officers, all of whom were later cleared of any wrongdoing. To prevent more deaths caused by Tasers, Amnesty International has called for stricter regulations on their use, recommending that they only be employed when the alternatives are either Tasing or shooting a suspect.
4. Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is a commonly available self-defense tool used by both civilians and law enforcement personnel. Although it is generally classified as a nonlethal weapon, it has occasionally been deadly. The exact number of fatalities caused by pepper spray is hard to determine, as many of the victims were intoxicated by drugs or alcohol at the time of their death.
The troubling truth about pepper spray-related deaths is that there has been little research into its actual lethality. Pepper spray contains capsaicin (or oleoresin capsicum) mixed with chemicals like alcohol, halogenated hydrocarbons, or propellants to enhance its effect. Inhaling these additional chemicals can negatively affect the heart, lungs, and nervous system, potentially causing irregular heartbeats or even death.
3. Batons
No list of deadly nonlethal weapons would be complete without mentioning the classic baton. Essentially a club, it has the potential to seriously injure or even kill, depending on where it strikes. A blow to sensitive areas like the head, neck, or groin could result in life-threatening injuries or death.
In the late 1990s, UK police forces began receiving complaints from the public after they were issued with US-style batons. These batons were far more dangerous than the traditional truncheons previously used by UK officers. Worse still, the new batons proved to be more tempting for officers to use, as they were considered “more effective” than their older counterparts.
The first fatality involving the US-style baton occurred when boxing promoter Brian Douglas was struck during a traffic stop in South London. The officer hit him with the baton, causing “massive and irreversible” brain damage, and Douglas passed away five days later. Police Constable Mark Tuffey, who struck Douglas, claimed he aimed for the arm but accidentally hit the neck. However, witnesses reported that Tuffey actually struck Douglas on the head.
2. Flash Grenades
Flash grenades, also known as stun grenades or flashbangs, are a type of nonlethal weapon that has nonetheless been responsible for sending people to both hospitals and morgues. Originally developed for military use in hostage rescue operations, these grenades emit an intense flash of light and a deafening sound when detonated, temporarily blinding and deafening anyone within range. They can cause severe burns upon contact, with some describing their heat as “hotter than lava,” leading to second- and third-degree burns or even death.
Since the year 2000, at least 50 Americans, including police officers, have been harmed or killed by flash grenades. Studies show that US law enforcement uses these grenades recklessly, even in situations where they’re not needed. This reckless use has led to fatalities of pets, heart attacks, amputations, and even fires destroying homes. In 2000, the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled that police were prohibited from tossing bombs—including flash grenades—into the homes of suspected drug dealers. Despite this ruling, flashbangs are still commonly used in drug raids.
In one incident, a woman suffered third-degree burns when officers from the Clayton County Police Department in Georgia threw a flash grenade into her boyfriend’s bedroom, where she and her boyfriend were asleep. The leader of the special team was promoted, while the rest of the officers were found not at fault.
Another widely publicized case involved 19-month-old Bou Bou Phonesavanh, who suffered serious injuries—including torn lips, a broken nose, and a chest wound—after police threw a flash grenade into his mother’s room during a drug raid in May 2014. The police had been targeting his cousin, Wanis Thonetheva, a suspected drug dealer, but he wasn’t even in the house at the time of the raid. No drugs were found either. Bou Bou underwent eight surgeries, and his parents paid $1.6 million in medical bills. He will need skin grafts every two years for the next two decades.
1. Kinetic Impact Projectiles
Rubber and plastic bullets are a subset of nonlethal weapons known as kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs). These are commonly used for crowd control, offering a nonlethal alternative to firearms. Ideally, they are designed to temporarily incapacitate individuals by stunning them, but in reality, they can result in fatalities and permanent disabilities, especially when they strike sensitive areas like the head, neck, or abdomen.
Data from countries like the United States, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Switzerland, India, Northern Ireland, Turkey, and Nepal reveal that approximately three out of every 100 people struck by KIPs die from their injuries. Between 1990 and 2017, KIPs caused 53 deaths and 1,931 injuries, with 300 of those injuries resulting in permanent disability.
