US military sets laser PHASRs to stun

New Scientist ^ | November 7, | Will Knight

[jmcenanly]

The US government has unveiled a "non-lethal" laser rifle designed to dazzle enemy personnel without causing them permanent harm. But the device will require close scrutiny to ensure compliance with a United Nations protocol on blinding laser weapons.

The Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response (PHASR) rifle was developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico, US, and two prototypes have been delivered to military bases in Texas and Virginia for further testing.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) believes the weapon could be used, for example, to temporarily blind suspects who drive through a roadblock. However, the DoD has yet to reveal details of how the laser works and has yet to respond to New Scientist’s requests for further information.

Laser weapons capable of blinding enemies have been developed in the past but were banned under a 1995 UN convention called the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons. The wording of this protocol, however, does not prohibit lasers that temporarily dazzle a foe.

[jmcenanly]

I couldn't get an official photo, but this is quite close

[Echo Talon]

they stunned my beeber. :)

[Para-Ord.45]

ALL WRONG ALL WRONG !!!

You want a phaser that dissolves the enemy completely

[Constitution Day]

[Semper Paratus]

Laser weapons capable of blinding enemies have been developed in the past but were banned under a 1995 UN convention called the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons.

But it's OK to blow their head off instead.

[zarf]

So what's the logic behind this PC weapon?

BTW, with the money we spent on this thing, could we have better spent it on trying to find better technology to find IED's?

[mosquewatch.com]

I don't want friendlier weapons, I want deadlier weapons.

[Bender2]

I'll keep my personal phaser set on kill...

[Reaganesque]

Here ya go:

[stuartcr]

So after the war is over, and we are helping them recover, who foots the bill for an army of blind people?

[joesnuffy]

The UN wants the USA and western (Christian) nations to use 'friendly' non lethal weapons while it ignores and encourages the commies, muzzie, narco terrorists (their brown shirts) use any and every WMD and terror they can come up with...against the western (Christian) nations and Israel.

imo

[C210N]

1995 UN convention called the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons

I'd like to see a 2006 UN Convention called the Protocol on Human Head Separation Via Dull Knife Blade.