Full Report
While they can cause serious injuries, “nonlethal” weapons are regularly used in the United States to disperse public demonstrations, including at the recent ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Analysis Summary
# Main Topic
The deployment and use of "nonlethal" or "less lethal" crowd control weapons by law enforcement agencies (specifically ICE protests in Los Angeles) and the serious injuries these weapons can inflict, contrasting their designation with international restrictions and observed abuses.
## Key Points
- "Nonlethal" weapons were used by National Guard and Los Angeles Sheriff's Office police against protesters during demonstrations concerning ICE raids.
- Specific devices identified include the PGL-65 (or P540) or 37mm/40mm Sage Deuce Projectile Launcher and the Defense Technology 40mm Single-Shot Launcher (model 1325 or similar).
- These launchers can fire kinetic impact grenades (rubber ammunition), stun grenades, tear gas grenades, and less-lethal fragmentation grenades.
- The Geneva Conventions discourage aiming kinetic projectiles at protesters' faces due to the risk of skull fractures, brain damage, eye damage (including permanent blindness), and death.
- Targeting the torso at close range can cause vital organ damage.
- Many countries obscure the specific models used by registering purchases generically (e.g., "40 mm launchers"), hindering accountability.
## Threat Actors
- **Law Enforcement Agencies:** Los Angeles Sheriff's Office police officers and National Guard troops.
- **Monitoring/Advocacy Bodies:** Amnesty International, which documents and condemns the abusive use of these devices against peaceful civilians.
## TTPs
- **Weapon Deployment:** Firing 40mm kinetic impact projectiles (rubber bullets) and tear gas to disperse crowds.
- **Targeting Violations:** Potential targeting of the face, head, or neck, violating Geneva Convention recommendations for kinetic projectiles.
- **Prohibited Use:** Firing in automatic mode or firing multiple projectiles simultaneously (violating necessity and proportionality principles).
## Affected Systems
- **Victims:** Demonstrators and protesters involved in recent ICE protests in Los Angeles, California.
- **Observed Harm:** Verified cases of eye injuries, including eye loss/rupture reported in similar contexts (e.g., Chile protests).
## Mitigations
- **International Prohibition:** Note that Canada explicitly prohibits specific models like the PGL-65 and Sage Deuce under its Firearms Regulations (e.g., bore diameter restrictions).
- **Operational Restrictions (Geneva Conventions Recommendations):** Mandate that kinetic projectiles not be used against the face, head, or neck; prohibit automatic firing; and ensure impact testing maintains proportionality.
- **Advocacy/Reporting:** Organizations like Amnesty International demand the suspension of 40-mm gas or impact projectile use against peaceful civilians.
- **Accountability:** Increase transparency by requiring governments to register specific makes and models of "less lethal" weapons purchased, rather than generic designations.
## Conclusion
The consistent use of kinetic impact weapons, despite being categorized as "nonlethal," poses a significant risk of severe, life-altering injuries to public demonstrators. The primary assessment points to dangerous operational practices that violate established international guidelines, often hidden by a lack of procurement transparency among many global law enforcement bodies outside of specific jurisdictions like Canada. Continued scrutiny and strict adherence to proportionality principles are critical to prevent human rights violations.