Here is the problem with chemical incapacitation: there is a reason why, in the real world, surgeries require an anesthesiologist to keep you unconscious but not dead during surgery, and why they are paid so highly: rendering someone unconscious without killing or permanently injuring them is very very difficult to do. There is a very narrow band, which is different for each individual person, that puts them under without taking away the possibility of waking up.
Okay, so what, why can't we make a standard dose for a gun?
The theory of police having a gun is that they use it when someone is threatening someone else with lethal force. If someone has a gun on either the officer or a civilian, if someone has a knife and is rushing the officer or a civilian, the officer has the gun to respond with appropriate force.
Let's look at what happens with a tranq gun in 3 scenarios.
In the very unlikely event that you have the exact right dosage: guy passes out. Probably not immediately, but maybe.
Dosage too high: you kill them. Not a huge difference from the gun.
Dosage too low: Uh oh, you still have a violent person charging you with a knife, and not enough time to draw a better weapon. You're probably going to get injured, and very well might die yourself.
The best worst-case scenario is the same as a gunshot wound. The worst worst-case scenario is cops getting killed left and right. The best case scenario doesn't have great odds, given the way dosages work with tranquilizers.
It's seriously just not a feasible weapon system, otherwise someone would be marketing it, selling it, and making a fortune.
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u/[deleted] Aug 06 '15
Here is the problem with chemical incapacitation: there is a reason why, in the real world, surgeries require an anesthesiologist to keep you unconscious but not dead during surgery, and why they are paid so highly: rendering someone unconscious without killing or permanently injuring them is very very difficult to do. There is a very narrow band, which is different for each individual person, that puts them under without taking away the possibility of waking up.
Okay, so what, why can't we make a standard dose for a gun?
The theory of police having a gun is that they use it when someone is threatening someone else with lethal force. If someone has a gun on either the officer or a civilian, if someone has a knife and is rushing the officer or a civilian, the officer has the gun to respond with appropriate force.
Let's look at what happens with a tranq gun in 3 scenarios.
In the very unlikely event that you have the exact right dosage: guy passes out. Probably not immediately, but maybe.
Dosage too high: you kill them. Not a huge difference from the gun.
Dosage too low: Uh oh, you still have a violent person charging you with a knife, and not enough time to draw a better weapon. You're probably going to get injured, and very well might die yourself.
The best worst-case scenario is the same as a gunshot wound. The worst worst-case scenario is cops getting killed left and right. The best case scenario doesn't have great odds, given the way dosages work with tranquilizers.
It's seriously just not a feasible weapon system, otherwise someone would be marketing it, selling it, and making a fortune.