Canada unveils arsenal for anti-G20 protests

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

Ontario (Reuters) - Canada on Thursday unveiled the arsenal it will use against protesters who get out of hand at two global summits later this month, promising riot police armed with guns, shields, Tasers and super-high-volume loudspeakers.

Toronto police said their new Long Range Acoustic Device would help them communicate with roaring protesters from as far as 250 meters (820 feet) away. When turned to full volume, the devices can emit enough sound to damage eardrums.

"This is not a weapon," said Constable Wendy Drummond, a spokeswoman for the Integrated Security Unit that will provide security for the two summits. "It is a communications tool. It may or may not even be used."

Security forces have bought four of the portable loudspeakers, also known as a sonic guns because the volume can be turned up to such levels they can be used as weapons.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6525K920100603

[Arrowhead2k1]

1. "damage eardrums"?

Wtf, so protestors might sustain permanent hearing loss if they happen to get in the way of the new police noise canon?

Whoa Canada, what a fascist little regime you have become.

[glinda]

2. Tasers are from the USA aren't they? Wonder how many weapons come from the USA?

[Socal31]

3. Wow, that is a stretch if I ever heard one.

USA-centric much?

[glinda]

7. I thought the inventor and company is from the US. Just wondering whose pushing the tools.

[EvilAL]

5. The tazers will be used on the deaf protesters.

[Downtown Hound]

4. It can damage eardrums, but it's not a weapon

says the nice officer.

[EvilAL]

6. hahah

No shit. It's only a weapon after you turn it up to 7.

[applegrove]

8. Our Prime Minister is a control freak neocon. He won't allow a discussion

of maternal health to include abortion even though 13% of female deaths that have to do with reproductive issues are from back alley abortions.

[formercia]

12. Bush Lite.

Lucky for you the Canadian Armed Forces aren't bigger. There are too many asshole regimes on this planet already.

[Blue_Tires]

9. as usual... they love using the G-20 as their "test case" for trying out new toys

they did the same last year..

[New Dawn]

10. More of the West's style of "freedom" on display.

[krkaufman]

11. reminds me of Naomi Klein's book, The Shock Doctrine

The showing of the implements of torture is a big part of the process, often negating the need for physical torture. Here, the Toronto police are putting their weapons on display as part of the effort to dissuade some from participating in the protests.