New "Laser" Weapon Debuts in LA County Jail

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Guards at the Los Angeles County jail complex in Castaic will start using a newfangled weapon that produces a deep burning sensation -- which is not to be confused with a “warm fuzzy feeling” -- in whomever it is aimed at.

The 7 1/2-foot-tall “Assault Intervention Device,” which sheriff's deputies demonstrated Friday at the Pitchess Detention Center, emits an invisible beam that causes an unbearable sensation, reported the Daily News.

The device will be mounted near the ceiling in a unit housing about 65 inmates, sheriff's Cmdr. Bob Osborne of the sheriff' Technology Exploration Program told the newspaper.

"We hope that this type of technology will either cause an inmate to stop an assault or lessen the severity of an assault by them being distracted by the pain as a result of the beam,” said Osborne. “So that we have fewer injuries, fewer assaults, those kinds of things."

Deputies have tested the device on themselves and say the invisible beam is painful -- especially when it's not expected.

"I equate it to opening an oven door and feeling that blast of hot air, except instead of being all over me, it's more focused,” said Osborne."

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/New-Laser-Weapon-Debuts-in-LA-County-Jail-101230974.html

[DJ13]

1. So in the decades to come when they find out those things cause cancer

.... they'll be held responsible, right?

[RandomThoughts]

2. Torture, the use of pain to get someone to comply to something.

:shrug:


LOL story even has Osborne name in it.

[Demit]

3. Oh, there won't be any problems of it being misused, no.

"The device, developed by Raytheon, is controlled by a joystick..." You'd think they would've at least renamed the controlling device, to make it sound less like entertainment for sheriff's deputies. We already see cops using tasers on grandmothers, pregnant women & children. Nothing like giving latent sadists another toy to play with.

[gratuitous]

4. Yes, they will stop inmate assaults

Then they'll stop inmate yelling. Then they'll stop inmate non-compliance with orders. Then they'll be teaching inmates a good lesson. Then they'll be doing it just for the fun of watching another human being scream in agony. Then even that won't be enough.

But I'm sure that's a fallacious slippery slope argument, and nothing of the kind will ever happen in the ranks of our law enforcement professionals.

[Lars39]

5. As predicted. :^(

[mike_c]

6. using pain to enforce compliance is torture....

Sheesh.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

7. Just wait till they shrink the unit into a handheld unit...

The new Taser? That is PHaser?

[Morning Dew]

8. The military's "Active Denial System"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Denial_System

Of course it will have to be used somewhere, why not on US citizens? (I don't need a sarcasm tag, do I?)

Deployed to Afghanistan this year and recalled without being used (or so they say, anyway).

[Initech]

9. Why am I suddenly reminded of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies?

[Jefferson23]

10. That is just sick. n/t

[Recursion]

11. It's a microwave, not a laser

We trained with these in the military for crowd control. Had one used on me. Can't even describe what it's like. It has a funny way of screwing up electronics; let's hope nobody they use it on has a pacemaker.

[HillbillyBob]

12. Someone like me will die because we have a stent or a pacemaker

because we happened to be in the wrong place/time it will be "Oh too bad just collateral damage, he either was a 'rioter' or some other kind of criminal".

I was aware that it was a microwave, but still used in a prison is torture and used on the public citizens is unconstitutional. It is to curb free expression, freedom of assembly, and unreasonable punishment w/o due course of the law. Im not a lawyer so no fancy language here. Beside the fact that our government has become an arm of the corporatocracy and is no longer a legitimate representative government when they resort to using this on citizens.

I am not trying to be rude just pointing out my point of view, having been on the receiving end of cops unwarranted attention a few times. Have the scars to show for it.

[Jim Sagle]

13. Race to the bottom bitchez

The oligarchs ain't takin' no shit from nobody.

You WILL give up EVERY PENNY of your Social Security and LIKE it, or ELSE!