Noise as a Weapon at the RNC

[Steely_Dan]

Does this bother you? The following article on the ABC News Site is very disturbing to me. How come we haven't heard more about this.

Apparently the police have a device now that can focus noise on individuals or crowds as a means of gaining control. According to the article, the noise can cause nausea or even fainting...a "non-lethal" weapon...as it were.

Here's the link:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/SciTech/Vote2004/high_tech_sound_040825-1.html

What do you think....? Should this be allowed to be used on humans? This really bothers me.

-P

[bryant69]

1. I don't know

I mean if they are using it on peaceful demonstrators than of course I'd be against that. But I'd be against them doing anything to peaceful protestors.

On the other hand it's unrealistic to assume that the era of civil disturbances is over; and it's unrealistic to assume that our law enforcement types shouldn't stop people from looting and rioting (I'm not saying anybody in New York is going to be doing that, i'm just saying that those sorts of situations are what this weapon was designed for).

So if this weapon might work better and more humanely than, say, Tear Gas, or Water hoses, well, than I'm all for it. Any kind of device to use in this situation isp robably going to have some drawbacks.

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

[Eric J in MN]

7. There have been plenty of protest in New York before now.

The police don't need this.

What I'm expecting is that if the police say "You must disperse" and people haven't magically vanished 10 minutes later, they will blast the crowd with volume dangerous to hearing.

[bryant69]

11. Well then we might be in agreement

The problem isn't so much that the device exists, it's that they are going to use it on innocent protesters

[stavka]

19. If a crowd of innocents include active violent types...

This is an ideal tool to deal with the problem, IF it works as promised.

The alternative? Tyrants have used in the past...

Saber charges in Russia, firing lines in India, clubs and guns in Chicago, and machine guns in Iran...

Application of tools might be a problem; giving non-lethal tools to police/soldiers needs to be looked at as fairly neutral.

[Vickers]

2. I think I'm gonna make me one of them things

Yup, I think I just might make me one. I imagine possession of one is protected by the 2nd Amendment.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Dictators are always looking for new "Secret Weapons"!

Hitler, Saddam, Bush they're all just alike!

[warrior1]

4. Earplugs?

But seriously, wouldn't this be illegal to possibly deafen American's displaying the first amendment rights?

[Steely_Dan]

5. Absolutely!

[Eric J in MN]

6. Ordinary earplugs can lower 25 decibels. That's better

than no protection, but it would be better to get professional protection like airport crews use.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. These are not law abiding people calling the shots in case you

haven't noticed! Most of the world thinks they are war criminals and half of America does too! Step out of line and you will soon see! It will get much worse if Bush wins IMO!

[DrWeird]

8. They're just using it to scare away protestors.

If the thought of this keeps you from protesting then the terrorists win.

[Steely_Dan]

10. No Chance of That

[DrWeird]

12. Actually there have been a couple posters saying they wouldn't go

...because of this megaphone thing.

[realFedUp]

13. Pundits should be covering this

Jon?

or even network guys...come on, protestors are
made out to be enemy combatants as Republicans
wish to define us.

This country is a protest zone.

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. It will cause PANIC, not CONTROL

And they know that.

Swiftboat Veterans for Bush

JFK - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - FUCK BUSH
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[Lone_Wolf]

15. It's cruel and unusual punishment...

The RNC and their police state are the real terrorists.

[goforit]

16. I thought it could also cause brain hemmorrhage.....hmmmm.

Got something that can bounce soundwaves right back to them???

[Cronus Protagonist]

17. Has it been tested on unborn children?

I doubt it. And I bet it can do some horrendous damage.

Swiftboat Veterans for Bush

JFK - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - FUCK BUSH
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[Eric J in MN]

18. Tear gas and 150 decibel noise aren't good for a fetus.

I'd like for the pro-life people to denounce attacking protestors with tear gas and/or the Long Range Acoustical Device.