About Non-Lethal Weapons Training

Non-lethal weapons training allows officers and soldiers to gain control of a situation without resorting to deadly force. Extensive training programs with non-lethal weapons allow officers to have complete confidence over their capabilities in using non-lethal weapons safely and effectively.

Non-lethal weapons are designed to take down the assailant without seriously maiming or killing them. Though that does not always work out, reports of people being seriously hurt or killed by non-lethal weapons remains quite rare. Overall, these weapons limit conflict levels and de-escalate dangerous situations.

Examples of non-lethal weapons include rubber bullets, tasers, paintballs, pepper spray, water cannons, tear gas, riot shields, police dogs and batons. Public interest in police training in non-lethal tactics remains high, yet officers continue moving towards lethal means. Or use non-lethal weapons in a deadly way. Though tasers are designed to simply subdue the criminal, police officers occasionally kill their assailant through overuse.

Increased training in non-lethal weapons will allow officers and soldiers to assert their authority without resorting to deadly force. Training should include various ways to handle unique situations along with cultural awareness training. Combative situations often result from cultural misunderstandings.

The Marine Corps teach their recruits how to restrain the assailant without killing them. The Marines want their soldiers to use force proportionate to their perceived threat level. Each recruit goes through the non-lethal weapons training program before deployment. Military superiors expect the soldiers to carefully weigh their threat levels at all times to assist in choosing the correct level of weaponry.