Knowra Non-lethal weapon Non-lethal weapon A weapon designed to incapacitate or deter people while minimizing the likelihood of death or permanent injury. Its effects are not guaranteed to be harmless or reversible.
Kinetic impact projectile : A projectile designed to transfer blunt force and incapacitate without penetrating the body. Rubber bullets and similar rounds use impact to deter or disable, but can cause severe injuries.
Riot control : The use of law-enforcement measures to manage demonstrations, riots, and public disorder. Crowd-control weapons are commonly justified for dispersal, but can affect bystanders indiscriminately.
Lethal weapon : A weapon designed or used to cause death or severe bodily harm. The distinction concerns intended and expected effects, not a guarantee that either category causes no deaths.
Less-lethal weapon injury : Physical harm caused by weapons intended to reduce the likelihood of death or permanent injury. Injuries can be severe or fatal, especially with head impacts, close-range use, or repeated exposure.
Conducted electrical weapon : A weapon that delivers electrical pulses through probes or direct contact to disrupt voluntary muscle control. Electrical incapacitation is a distinct mechanism with risks that vary by exposure and health.
Less-lethal force : Force intended to reduce the probability of death or serious injury compared with conventional lethal force. This term emphasizes risk reduction rather than implying that a weapon is safe or harmless.
Deadly force : Force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. Policies often distinguish this threshold from the intended use of non-lethal weapons.
United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms : A 1990 United Nations instrument setting standards for law-enforcement use of force and firearms. Its principles require restraint, proportionality, and attention to minimizing injury.
Chemical irritant : A substance that causes temporary irritation of the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract. Irritants such as tear gas can disperse crowds, but enclosed spaces increase their danger.
Rules of engagement : Directives specifying when and how military personnel may use force. Operational rules can restrict deployment, targets, and escalation when these weapons are available.
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