Non-Lethal Weapon Chokes Crowds From 100 Meters

[sabra]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3afc3e948e-d515-4458-b05c-5cf17fa205de

A company calling itself Security With Advanced Technology, or SWAT, is offering a new nonlethal weapon that launches a PAVA-filled projectile designed to make unruly crowds cough and choke until they are debilitated. The company says the powder is significantly stronger than pepper spray with a range of 50 meters for individual targets and up to 100 meters for larger riot and crowd control.



The MK series of launchers comes in four models ranging in price from $349 to $499 a copy. The launchers are propelled by high pressured air. The projectiles break open on impact releasing a "cloud of potent PAVA powder that causes subjects to cough, choke and become temporarily debilitated," the company says. The launcher was developed by SWAT's Veritas Tactical business unit.

"Our MK Series is superior to competitive products, and incorporates features conceived by an advisory board consisting of military and law enforcement trainers, SWAT officers, police officers, as well as our own development team," said Ben Cook, director of Security With Advanced Technology's Veritas Tactical division. "We have sent out numerous units for test and evaluation and are expecting significant sales in the coming months as the desire for less-lethal high-quality launchers like the MK Series continues to grow, and patrol officers, SWAT teams and detention officers express the importance of managing compliance situations without resorting to lethal force."

[bryant69]

1. Given the growing proble of overpopulation, it is irresponsible to create non-violent weapons!

That's my take.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Too right!

How do you expect to ever reduce the surplus population using non-lethal weapons?

Got an unruly crowd? Use a street-aweeper. THAT will clear them away quick enough!

[Solo_in_MD]

10. Street Sweeper is usable only in the putrid dreams of the Brady Bunch, use a Ma Deuce instead

Ma Duce = M2 Browning, the classic 50 Caliber MG

[bryant69]

11. There's so many knowlegable people on DU. n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. And when people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems die because of this...

Can we call it murder?

[NeedleCast]

3. So it's a Paint Ball Gun

That shoots chemical rounds.

This seems like a really poor idea.

[porphyrian]

5. What, Hastert ate Mexican? - n/t

[AX10]

6. Another weapon for SWAT teams to terrorize we Americans with.

:puke:

[JuniperLea]

9. That will deter us bastids from gathering...

And exercising our... you know, that old time deal... freedom of... freedom of... what the hell was that again? Oh, yeah. Freedom of speech.

[DS1]

7. I was expecting to see a picture of Darth Vader

:rofl:

[JuniperLea]

8. And so it begins...

We've already said farewell to freedom of the press. Now... Good-bye free speech.

[guitar man]

12. that's nothing new

it's been around about 6 1/2 years or so now...

[eppur_se_muova]

13. Info on PAVA, pelargonyl vanillylamide (PAVA or Nonivamide)

(More at the link. Basic conclusion: insufficient data available to judge the safety of PAVA use)


PAVA has the following chemical structure:





Use of PAVA as incapacitant spray

3. The spray used by Sussex Police consists of a 0.3% solution of PAVA in 50% aqueous ethanol. It is dispensed from hand held canisters (containing nitrogen as propellant) as a coarse liquid stream; the spray pattern is stated to be directional and precise. The canisters contain 50 ml of solution. The instructions are to aim directly at the subject's face, especially the eyes, using a half second burst (still air) or one second burst (moving air), repeating if necessary. The maximum effective range is 8-15 feet and the instructions are not to use at a distance of under 3 feet because of the risk of pressure injury to the eye. The effectiveness of the spray depends on eye contact with small amounts reaching the eyes producing the desired effect. In some cases officers will miss and use more than one burst.

4. Studies on the particle size of the spray indicate that the bulk of the droplets are over 100 mm but a small proportion (1-2%) is in the range 2-10 mm, and there may be traces below 2 mm. Thus it is unlikely that large amounts of PAVA will reach the respiratory system, although the possibility of some reaching the lungs cannot be excluded. It is not possible to estimate the respirable dose.

Toxicity of PAVA

Absorption, Metabolism, Elimination and Excretion

5. Only limited data are available to assess oral absorption of PAVA; the compound shows higher acute toxicity by the parenteral rather than by the oral route suggesting relatively poor oral absorption. More extensive data are available regarding skin absorption, particularly from ointments designed for topical medical use. PAVA has been shown to be well absorbed through the rabbit skin (50-70% in 14 hours) when applied in such ointments (hydrophilic, oil-water emulsions) under an occlusive dressing.(1) More limited skin absorption (12% over 72 hours) was reported in the rat using an aqueous vehicle (phosphate buffered saline) and a non-occlusive dressing.(2) The only data available on skin absorption from aqueous ethanol are from in-vitro studies using rat skin when the rate of absorption from 50% aqueous ethanol was shown to be considerably faster than that when phosphate buffered saline was used as vehicle.(2) It should therefore be assumed that there will be some absorption of PAVA following skin or eye contact with the spray.

6. Once absorbed PAVA is distributed throughout the body, extensively metabolised and rapidly excreted (most within 24 hours). The main route of metabolism is hydrolytic cleavage of the amide bond which occurs in liver and other tissue including the skin.(2) There is some evidence for aliphatic hydroxylation, as also occurs with capsaicin.(3)
***
more: http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/pava.htm