I See WAY Too Many Problems

The eight different non-lethal 40mm rounds available.

According to FoxNews, a new form of non-lethal ammunition has hit the market. This non-lethal ammunition is marketed toward law enforcement officers in an attempt to limit the amount of negative headlines involving police officers using deadly force. The non-lethal ammunition is a 40mm "grenade" that is launched from a standard launcher and has the range of approximately 300 feet. The "grenade" is not a grenade at all, but instead a blunt projectile that launches with the force equal to that of a baton or ASP strike. There are also different types of 40mm ammunition that can be used in any standard launcher. Some of which include pepper rounds, DNA rounds, and a standard energy absorption round. The energy absorption rounds hit the target and spread the force across multiple nerve endings and this is similar throughout all the rounds, but the pepper rounds produce a similar effect to pepper spray and the DNA rounds mark a target for an extended period of time so that officers have the ability to determine those involved in riots and arrest them for their activities at a later date. My only concern is the effects at a close range. If the effective range of the launchers with such rounds is 300 feet, then the force at closer ranges would be far greater, so my question is, how extensive would the blunt force trauma be at close range? Someone with just everyday clothing being shot with such an object would be quite highly damaged at close range. In a riot situation, where rioters are in very close proximity to officers, these 40mm rounds possibly possess the potential to break ribs, rupture lungs, and even cause massive damage to the heart. I personally think that other non-lethal options, such as the Ironfist 38mm non-lethal weapon system, ISPRA multi-effect grenades, Condor GL 310 - Bailarina, and the Samson NL RWS, would be much better for officers. All previously mentioned non-lethal options have their own purposes, but some can provide a multi-purpose role, as well. All of them provide better options to officers that the 40mm non-lethal round, as they would not deduce the same amount of blunt force trauma to an individual's body. However, any non-lethal option that is given to police officers is better than none at all.

This video may be using firearms to demonstrate

blunt force trauma, but it gets the point across.

To explain blunt force trauma from the 40mm

non-lethal round, imagine the same crater being

created at a very close range, but without a plate

of Level IIIA body armor to protect you.