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Thailand's "Q" Banks on Rubber Bullets

Posted by michael on from the aston-martin-not-included dept.

redwolfoz writes "ABC News reports that Thailand's answer to 'Q', the legendary inventor of gadgets for movie spy James Bond, is busy at work at his warehouse on the edge of the country's capital. Workmen inside are trying out the latest inventions of retired Major Songphon Eiamboonyarith, who runs defence contracting firm Precipart Co. The range includes umbrellas that shoot rubber bullets, bullet-proof baseball caps and a hand-held device to fire a man-sized net 10m to stop a villain in his tracks."

5 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why would you want a bullet proof baseball cap? by McCart42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not if it's a grazing shot to begin with. Besides, even if you're right, mild brain damage or a hemmorrage (chance of death) is preferable to a bullet in the skull (you're dead before you know what hit you).

    --
    "I may be quite wrong." - Socrates
  2. Re:Why would you want a bullet proof baseball cap? by Celandro · · Score: 2, Insightful


    You really have no idea what you are talking about do you? Brain damage you have........

    Helmets were first issued to troops to prevent death from grazing shots to the head as they were among the most common, if not THE most common cause of death (I believe this was WWI but dont quote me on that). A truly bullet proof helmet would be a great achievement and quite useful in combat and riot police situations.

  3. Re:Why no pepper-spray paintball guns? by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Alternative weapon systems are usually called "less than lethal", as a reminder that they can and do seriously injure people. As it is, there is a backlash against police overuse of pepper spray and things of that sort. Really I don't think police need too many options. A club, or a sap, and a sidearm are all I personally think they should carry. All these toys might look neat, but I think it encourages abuse. Sometimes technology isn't the answer, when the question already had perfectly good low-tech answers.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  4. Non-lethal means of control is a trick by capedgirardeau · · Score: 4, Insightful


    All this feel good bullshit about non-lethal means of controlling people being nicer and show that the authorities are really nice guys is a trick.

    More non-lethals controls are still controls and actually lead to an increase in the state powers and ability to surpress protests and dissent!!

    The easier it is for them to package it to the masses as a good, nice, humane thing, the easier it will be for them to get away with putting down people and their voices.

    As if we need more that these days.

    --
    Wax on, wax off baby!
    1. Re:Non-lethal means of control is a trick by crusher-1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed. My father was a cop in a major city and taught me the only time you should use any sort of projectile weapon is in situations where life is at risk. In the event that a weapon of this nature is to be used, it is to be used in only one fashion - you either shoot to kill or you don't shoot.

      Furthermore, while attending UCLA their basketball team won the final 4. A significant amount of the student body went into Westwood and became a bit unruly (as college students will). And of course non-students became involved and things got a bit out-of-hand. The L.A.P.D. sent out a riot control unit. At one point a non-student that was somewhat aggitated was surrounded by a groups of police. Then a stun gun - the type that shoots a bean-bag type projectile was fired at this person at close range. This guy fell as if he had been shoot with a generic projectile (aka bullet). He laid there for 10 to 15 minutes before anyone on the P.D. would take action to get the EMS in their. This only happened after the rest of the crowd became aggitated by the fact that someone that was essentially defenseless was injured and no assistance by the authorities was garnered. It was only then that the man was give assistance - and not before the P.D. dragged him behind the riot line by his feet.

      Point is, that supposed "non-lethal" weapons are not completely non-lethal. If the situations are right or the weapon is used in a manner not intended death can easily happen.

      And what good is a bullet proof baseball cap good for anyway. An umbrella that's just a camouflaged zip gun. Q he ain't. Just another mercenary trying to market stuff that the U.S., Stazi, and the K.G.B. have been doing since the 60's.

      In the U.S. this guy would either be working for the C.I.A./N.S.A. or be labeled as a criminal.

      Just MHO. :[