'Less Lethal' Weapons Used by Law Enforcement in Los Angeles Protests | Anti-ICE Protests in LA
Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles began deploying "less lethal" munitions on Sunday (June 8) as they clashed with crowds protesting federal immigration raids. "Less lethal" or "less-than-lethal" weapons are designed to cause pain and discomfort, normally to disperse hostile crowds, but have caused serious injury and death in the past. Media outlets, and a reporter hit in the leg by a projectile on Sunday, have said LAPD officers have been firing rubber bullets, a metal casing covered in rubber. In fact, the LAPD do not use rubber bullets, the department told Reuters. Instead, the LAPD uses foam rounds, a condensed sponge projectile. One version, which has a plastic body with a hard foam nose, is fired from a 40mm launcher and usually aimed directly at a target. A second version, fired from a 37mm launcher, disperses five foam baton rounds toward the ground in front of a hostile crowd once an unlawful assembly has been declared, before bouncing up into the crowd. It is not to be fired directly at individuals, the LAPD said. Flash bangs, otherwise known as "distraction devices" or "noise flash diversionary devices," produce an ear-piercing bang and bright light to disorient targets by temporarily disrupting their sight and hearing. One type of flash bang device that has been used in Los Angeles is the 40mm aerial flash bang. These are launched into the air and ignite above the heads of protesters. Tear gas, one of the most common riot control tools, is designed to temporarily incapacitate people by causing excessive irritation to the eyes, nose, lungs, and skin. It can cause temporary blindness, streaming eyes and nose, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Tear gas canisters usually contain CS gas, a chemical compound, or OC gas, which stands for oleoresin capsicum, the active ingredient in pepper spray. Pepper spray, which has similar impacts as tear gas, is sprayed from a handheld canister and is often used when police come into close quarters with rioters or are engaged in hand-to-hand encounters. It mainly irritates the eyes, causing temporary blindness. Pepper balls mirror the effects of pepper spray, but are delivered in a projectile similar to a paintball. On impact, it bursts open, releasing powdered OC into the air. Police often do not fire pepper balls directly at a person, but at street signs, onto buildings or into the ground to cause them to burst open. Known as the oldest less lethal weapon, the baton has been used for crowd control for decades. Police officers have been using batons to push and strike protesters in recent days. #laprotests #losangeles #usarmy #america #usmarine #donaldtrump #jdvance Source: REUTERS .............................................................................................. News9 is India's first fully integrated English news brand across all digital platforms. It includes a publishing platform, viz. www.news9live.com, a future-ready OTT platform, News9 Plus, and a 24-Hour video streaming service on connected TVs and all social platforms. Watch News9 Live - The English news brand that understands and fits perfectly into the digital-first lifestyles of our English news audiences. ► News9 Plus Website : https://www.news9plus.com/all ► News9 Plus App : https://news9plus.app.link/aPwz3P2psMb ► News9 OTT Coupons : https://bit.ly/4dwLDx4 ► Watch us on YouTube : / news9live ► Like us on Facebook : / news9live ► Follow us on Instagram : / news9live ► Follow us on Twitter : / news9tweets #englishnews #tv9digital #tv9d #news #livestream & #news9livestreaming
