Give police Star Trek-style weapons, says senior British officer

AFP/Yahoo ^ | Fri Feb 13, 7:33 PM ET

[martin_fierro]

Give police Star Trek-style weapons, says senior British officer

Fri Feb 13, 7:33 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - A British police chief has revealed the type of weapon he would most like to see officers carry in the future, it was reported Saturday -- a disabling "phaser gun" of the sort used in television show "Star Trek".

The gun -- which Deputy Chief Constable Ian Arundale admitted might not be developed for many years -- would be able to turn "someone's brain off", he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Arundale, who is head of the Association of Chief Police Officers' use of firearms units, said there was a need for a "less lethal" alternative to conventional guns, which British police rarely carry.

"What we would like in the future is a Star Trek-style phaser that, perfectly safely, temporarily switches someone's brain off so that officers move in," Arundale was quoted as saying.

"We know we are not going to get that, probably not in my lifetime anyway, but we will look at anything that takes us in that direction."

According to the official Internet site for Star Trek, a hugely influential US science fiction series first broadcast in 1966, the phaser was a "Starfleet handheld energy weapon in use since circa 2266".

"The Phaser Type-1 was commonly used when a show of force was not appropriate, such as in first contact and other off-ship missions involving diplomacy," it explains.

[martin_fierro]

Oh.

I thought he meant:

[prion]

According to the official Internet site for Star Trek

Wow. There really is an official internet site. Who knew? (Yes, it's startrek.com).

[jscd3]

The gun would be able to turn "someone's brain off", he was quoted..

Sounds like this guy tried to commit suicide with it...

[LanPB01]

Forget that sissy Star Trek stuff. Give the officers lightsabers!

[tet68]

My 1911 will turn your brain off easily enough.

Now restarting it............that's another propositioon.

[LibWhacker]

. . . would be able to turn "someone's brain off" . . .

Wouldn't that turn them into a liberal?

[Redcloak]

The gun -- which Deputy Chief Constable Ian Arundale admitted might not be developed for many years -- would be able to turn "someone's brain off", he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

What's wrong with the standard issue, 9mm brain switch?

(Though your Bat'leth idea would certainly work too!)

[Tijeras_Slim]

. . . would be able to turn "someone's brain off" . . .

Read Tristam Shandy to them...

[TC Rider]

The gun -- which Deputy Chief Constable Ian Arundale admitted might not be developed for many years -- would be able to turn "someone's brain off", he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

How about Mind Control helmets, or magic swords, or electric lassos, those time machine wrist watches would come in handy too!

[Afro_conservative]

Awesome give me 2 of them and a ham and cheese sandwich to go thank you.

[RandallFlagg]

. . . would be able to turn "someone's brain off" . . .

Wouldn't that turn them into a liberal?

ROTFLMAO!!!! Quote of the day!!!!

[lepton]

would be able to turn "someone's brain off",

Aren't they called women? :)

[KarlInOhio]

He's talking about the phaser that has two settings: stun and disintegrate. You don't have to fill out a lot of paperwork when all you leave is a scorch mark in the pavement.

[lepton]

would be able to turn "someone's brain off",

Aren't they called "women"? :)

[4mycountry]

Star Treck stuff is for wussies. You wanna talk sci-fi weapon? THIS is a sci-fi weapon!:

Stargate is so cool. :)

[BenLurkin]

[LRS]

Where's the "Beam me up"?

The must be a "Beam me up"!

[BenLurkin]

Still in the design stage.

[spunkets]

" ...would be able to turn "someone's brain off""

How's this thing going to be effective? There aren't that many brits with their brains on.

[martin_fierro]

Read Tristam Shandy to them...

Yunz is waaaay too literate for me.

[punster]

I believe that anything that would deliver sufficient shock to cause a general paralysis would also be likely to paralyze the respiratory system and heart. In other words, it would have a high risk of killing.

It is the same question raised with the use of firearms for self-defense. You do not shoot to wound. You do not shoot to kill. You do not shoot them just a little bit. You shoot them to stop them. Of course, there is a significant risk of killing your assailant.

[luvbach1]

Phasers at the ready and set on "knock for a loop!"

[luvbach1]

"Stunguns" do almost the same thing without killing. Just need something longer lasting and which can hit from a distance.

[TheGeezer]

Have you seen the Taser (www.taser.com)? The waveform of the delivered charge and 50,000 peak voltage can drop just about anyone onto the ground helplessly.

Now if they can do it wirelessly...

[Dark Knight]

It can drop just about anyone onto the ground helplessly (according to their literature, and 9 out of 10 times is pretty good, just that tenth guy is such a mean SofaB).

DK

[Grut]

...would be able to turn "someone's brain off", he was quoted as saying...

Gawd, we need a twenty-four hour moratorium on comments just so we can grok this idiot in fullness....

[Slings and Arrows]

"What we would like in the future is a Star Trek-style phaser that, perfectly safely, temporarily switches someone's brain off..."

"...long enough for them to vote Labour."

[mhking]

Now THAT's a knife...

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[punster]

""Stunguns" do almost the same thing without killing. Just need something longer lasting and which can hit from a distance."

I have my doubts about stunguns being perfectly safe. There is a question about individuals with heart trouble and those with pacemakers. The electrical shock could induce a cardiac arrhythmia.

A lot of people have been killed in fist fights, which some people have advocated, saying fist fights would not result in fatalities. The reason, boxers are required to use gloves, is to keep them from killing each other.

[tj005]

....>>My 1911 will turn your brain off easily enough.

Now restarting it............that's another propositioon.<<<

yes... the 1911, a great choice for self defense sidearm

[punster]

Again, I have my doubts about the effectiveness of tasers. What if the assailant is wearing a heavy leather jacket. The darts will not penetrate, and the assailant will remain a threat.

Any self-defense weapon must be totally reliable. The last concern is the safety of an assailant. That is the unpleasant truth.

[SBprone]

The Gurkhas have something that will take your brain off.

Oh, he said "turn your brain off?"

Never mind.

[King Prout]

you beat me to it.

[King Prout]

would be able to turn "someone's brain off"

Aren't they called "women"? :)

ticktockticktockticktock...

[MEG33]

kiss,kiss...;)

[Cloud William]

Yeah, SG-1 *is* cool, but give me a photon grenade launcher every time. :-)

[mikrofon]

1 shot stuns, 2 shots kills

[TheGeezer]

You may be right, but I've seen the Taser demonstrated, and it pierced pretty thick leather jackets in the demo. Additonally, the person using the Taser is supposed to follow an escalation of force.

Regards.

[freedumb2003]

would be able to turn "someone's brain off",

You are gonna get iiiiiit! I hereby leave a 75-Meter Zone of Death around you, which no Man should enter!

[Khan Noonian Singh]

<<< would be able to turn "someone's brain off" >>>

What the world needs is a device that can turn someone's brain on!

[Eaker]

This is less than lethal ......... if I want it to be.

[King Prout]

trying to switch my brain off?

[King Prout]

too many things to get stuck on cloth, meat, ribs...

[luvbach1]

The electrical shock could induce a cardiac arrhythmia.

True enough. But not in most people. Nothing that would be effective can be perfectly safe.

[MEG33]

Just wanted to see if you were paying attention!

[King Prout]

I wasn't... until the sound of smacking lips caught my eye.

hey, it WAS a "sound effect" and it IS a text-based communications medium, after all

[Future Snake Eater]

...would be able to turn "someone's brain off"...

It's now known as the HK USP69 "Liberal."

[BenLurkin]

That was very cool.

I also liked the improvised weapon he made out of 'home made' gunpowder and using diamonds for buckshot.

[socal_parrot]

Just teach them to do the Vulcan pinch...

[Professional Engineer]