Military-grade non-lethal weapon used against US citizenry

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSMyY3_dmrM&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]


I guess military tech always finds its way home. Pittsburgh city officials believe their police department's use of a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) at last week's G20 protests was "the first time the sound cannon had been used publicly."

Police used the device to emit a painful shrill that forced demonstrators to cover their ears and withdraw while police threw tear gas and stun grenades. "Other law enforcement agencies will be watching to see how it was used," Pittsburgh's police bureau chief told the NY Times. "It served its purpose well."

Whether or not you think the protesters have a right to demonstrate or are anarchists without a permit to march, it's still pretty eye-opening to see tech like that used at home.

As a non-lethal weapon, sound canons have been mounted to vehicles by the U.S Army, installed on American warships to warn incoming vessels, defended private cruise ships against Somali pirates, and were at the ready (though not used) at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.

But this is the first time LRAD has been used against U.S civilians. According to reports, 20 people were arrested, but there were no serious injuries.
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How come they don't use that against the wingnut protesters who are bringing loaded weapons to protests and threatening treason?

this is hardly news. Water canon (which can do same heavy damage to human bodies) and rubber bullets have been used, along with tear gas, tasers and tangle-foot nets. All nominally non-lethal.

ruveyn

Are such devices ever used against right-wing protests or is it just the lefties that get to help field-test out all these non-lethal goodies.

The interesting thing about it is the lack of protest about the basic rights to free speech and demonstration. It seems the US public has been thoroughly domesticated.

Vana isn't entirely wrong about the police state matter. Nor is she entirely wrong about how most everyone is a slave.



You should look into the various conformity experiments performed around and just after WWII. Milgram, Asch conformity, Stanford prison.

We already know how to control people on the large scale, for the most part.

There's a big difference between a peaceful protest and a violent and destructive riot. The tea party protesters had permits and were pretty regular folks. These G20 protesters did not have permits, wear masks, broke windows, vandalized local businesses, started fires, blocked roads, and fought with the police. It's not hard to understand.

I'd rather get hit by this LRAD than billy clubs and german shepherds.

My view is demanding people apply for permits to protest is a restriction of civil liberties. When a minority turn to random violence and other vandalism it's a matter for standard protection of life and property etc laws. When a mass riot it's a sign of deeper problem no amount of permits is going to solve. So far as I can tell some protesters (usually anarchists who have a habit of making things worse for all concerned) see masks, road blocks and engaging the police in direct combat a valid response to the increasing militarization of civilian law enforcement. The fact that an innocent man walking home from work was killed and others assaulted by police in the London G20 had no effect on the decision making of some here of course. Or maybe it did, I'd have to read some more in depth reports on what went down. Though I note in London some officers in the 'kettling' demarcation lines didn't wear their id numbers on their uniforms and undercover officers operated in the crowd trying to incite the protesters to violence (they were quickly weeded out by the protesters for this and would walk to the police line, flash their ID and be allowed through). Attacking the police is stupid, not just because your going to get yourself and a few people around you slapped down but also because it achieves absolutely nothing positive. RBS wanted to sue the kid who smashed their window for 40k. How many banks has smashing that window brought to their knees? none. RBS don't want the money (that's absolute chicken feed, their execs turn up for half a morning and would feel underpaid for that) and know they won't get it. How many teenage vandals will go to jail because they can't afford lawyers much less the 40k being asked for? one.

Most people are pretty stupid. I find that to be true on the micro as well as the macro level. I'm on a survivalist forum, and even there people will spout opinions that aren't their own, they're just minority opinions. The good thing is that they at least tolerate dissent. Most survivalist boards don't, they ban anybody who steps out of line. And these are the people who think they'll lead a revolution, and here they are banning people from their boards left and right. I have been offered a raw food diet to cure my autism so far (that's a new one), and lots of talk about flouride and vaccines.

I have come to the conclusion that 99% of people aren't mentally able to handle freedom, even if you give it to them on a silver platter all wrapped up nice like the founders of the USA did. That means that all you have to do is quash or co-opt the smart ones. Most of the smart ones are children of the elite. America chooses to destroy those who aren't. That's a risky policy, since you never know when an alienated genius will turn the tables. Hitler never got over being a social reject in his youth. Tesla claimed he could destroy the universe.

military-grade just means a standard of quality acceptable to the DOD. There's a fine line between peaceful and non-peaceful protest. It has been pushed for well over a century. Of course, we don't sent in the Pinktertons with live ammo anymore.

Could be worse - there's a microwave Humvee-mounted 'ray gun' that feels like you've been set on fire. Only the Iraqis get that now..

Not really. They're just given the best chance and most opportunities.

And I'm not sure about slaves and all....I go back and forth on it. I think most people see their sapience as a kind of curse and if they had to actually deal with it, they wouldn't. I don't think it's that they're incapable so much as they're just mentally lazy.


And yeah, packled, I'm glad we aren't using the heat-ray on our own populace yet. I'm not looking forward to hearing about that.

pfff

would never work in countries were demonstrators got more balls

bring ear protection gear and pack the molotov cocktails

Uh yeah, intelligence is inherited, didn't you know that? There is a natural elite, and they are capable of mental feats above and beyond what their slaves can do. Most people aren't really sapient, they are just intelligent enough to not blow things up and run the system for the elites. I happen to believe that who or whatever designed humanity intended it that way. Look at the current job market, the bosses don't want somebody who is truly capable so much as somebody who can earn them money with a minimum of fuss and complaint. It has always been that way. Why would a farmer need to be smart? Plowing doesn't take much brains. Look at any non-elite genius, and dig into his background, you'll find royalty, I guarantee you.

What happened at Ruby Ridge and Waco?

What did the FBI do to Gordon Kahl?

At Little Rock the National Guard was there with live ammunition to use against people protesting school integration. If the demonstration got out of hand the National Guard would have shot to kill.

ruveyn

I forgot the question mark but that was an earnest question.

Waco was definitely excessive force.