POLICE GET NEW AND UNPROVED
"Less Lethal" AMMO

As police agencies nationwide move away from the use of "less-lethal" shotguns, Portland lags behind by tinkering with the shape of projectile weapons. So-called "less lethal" shotguns that fire small sacks filled with lead pellets can be deadly, even when used properly. Since their introduction, "less lethal" projectiles (including plastic bullets) have killed at least 12 people in the US and Canada (LA Times, June 3).

Police, doctors, researchers, and victims have also discovered that the sacks can break bones, crush internal organs, and cause contusions and lacerations. Part of the problem is that a shooter never knows if an individual bag will be fired relatively slowly or with deadly speed. Furthermore, the square bags previously used in Portland routinely fail to unfold as designed, instead striking the person with a narrow edge that acts as a high-velocity blade. Tests conducted by the LAPD found this to be the case in a full 90% of incidents.

Add to this that the projectiles are often highly inaccurate and it's no wonder that police departments across the country are dropping the guns from their arsenal. The nation's largest manufacturer of "less lethal" ammunition sold less than 50% as much in 2001 as in the previous year. The Huntington Beach (CA) Police Department is suing the weapons' manufacturer after officers shot three pellet-bags into a man's chest. The bags broke ribs, severed an artery, and had to be surgically removed.

"Less lethal" shootings are even more likely to be fatal when the guns, contrary to manufacturers' warnings, are used at close range. Portland Police have repeatedly shot suspects from ranges of under ten feet and in crowds, risking serious injury and death. So far, they seem to have managed to avoid killing anyone with the bags, instead causing "only" severe contusions and lacerations, but a death in Portland may only be a matter of time.

In late June, the Police Bureau announced they were switching to a new type of pellet bag- the "sock" bag. These projectiles are designed to be more predictable and accurate, and less likely to break the skin. However, American police have killed three people with this type of bag in the past two years. The sock bag is also significantly heavier than the old square bags (7 oz. vs. 1.4 oz.), which seems to belie any claim that they are less likely to injure (Oregonian, June 18). Many law enforcement ballistics experts question the effectiveness of any type of "less lethal" projectile. Captain Sid Heal, LA County Sheriff's sharpshooter, surmises that current options range from "completely ineffective to tragic."

It comes as no surprise that Portland Police continue to swap one bad policy for another rather than listen to scientific research. Portland's experience with pepper spray has proven that the Bureau always prefers a weapon­even a deadly, inhumane weapon­to no weapon at all.

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