Police Brutality Cases of the Science Fiction Type: Pain Ray Guns

Fans of the classic television series Star Trek remember when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) or Spock (Leonard Nimoy) would order crew members to set their phasers to "stun." When the weapons were used, special effects were employed to show viewers the rays being projected from the phasers. The targets, usually alien life, were often rendered temporarily, but totally incapacitated. What was merely science fiction in the 1960's may soon be, thanks to technological advances, reality in some police brutality cases involving what's known as "pain ray" guns.

The U.S. Department of Justice is working on the development of hand-held "non-lethal" weapons that inflict pain by means of either microwaves or laser beams. The significance of such government activity is that such New Age weapons just might be approved to be placed in the hands of police officers. While some view this as good thing, other do not. Supporters of police officers being armed with pain ray guns believe that there will be a decrease in the number of lethal encounters that people will have with law enforcement. Those who are in opposition warn that the number of police brutality cases will increase because torture can be inflicted at a distances.

The advancement of technology has definitely had a positive influence on many lives in the modern world. The Internet, electronic mail, and Instant Messaging (IM) all allow for virtually instant communication between people separated by thousands of miles. Electronic devices such as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), in the field of medicine, has saved the lives of many who suffered cardiac arrest. Radio and television offer entertainment and relaxation for millions. However, a possible increase in police brutality cases via the use of pain ray guns in the hands of law enforcement is a very dark side of technology in the opinion of most people.

The Active Denial System (ADS) of the U.S. Pentagon is a weapon designed to control and intimidate large crowds of people. It makes use of a beam of short microwaves reaching out two meters capable of heating up the surface of the skin. Supposedly, the pain ray guns in development are based on the ADS and the goal is to manufacturer a portable ADS. Can it truly be said that cooking someone's skin is non-lethal, especially if micro or laser rays are used? The skin is an organ and one of its functions is to protect the body from microorganisms, debris and harmful chemicals. Nevertheless, it obviously is not invincible and shouldn't be attacked with New Age weaponry.

In addition to the threat of an increase in police brutality cases, there's also the inevitability of such torture devices falling into the hands of gang members and the mentally ill. Fortunately, some people realize the danger of manufacturing such weapons whether police officers can use them or not. They become a threat to everyone so efforts will have to be made to develop and manufacturer protective gear. Bullet-proof vests exist because there are guns. Will pain ray protective gear have to be developed? Will it truly protect? Bullets that hit objects don't disturb the natural environment, but microwaves could.

sources:

Shattered Paradigm (FutureStorm)
Police In The U.S. Could Soon Have "Pain Ray" Guns
InfoWars.com

David Hambling
U.S. police Could Get 'Pain Beam' Weapons
NewScientist.com